Biden administration rejects BNP’s proposal

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While Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has requested Biden administration to “directly intervene” in the next general elections in Bangladesh, key policymakers in the US Capitol have rejected such plea stating, following “huge mess” in Afghanistan, Biden administration is unwilling to directly intervene into domestic politics of any “third country”. Washington has also turned-down BNP’s request for “putting pressure” on Bangladesh authorities in releasing Khaleda Zia and allowing party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for returning to Bangladesh and all the cases and convictions be put on stay through an executive order.

BNP policymakers told Biden administration that for the sake of “resolving” issues through dialogue and “pave path” for a free, fair and transparent general elections in 2024, participation of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman in those dialogues is “essential”. In response to this request, Washington has suggested BNP to “resolve these legal issues” through courts.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party is using full-force through its appointed lobbyists and several individuals including Novel laureate Mohammad Yunus in getting fresher sanctions from the US targeting dozens of individuals in Bangladesh. A dossier in this regard was earlier prepared and circulated by BNP men in Washington and other Western capitals. This dossier has been prepared by a committee approved by Tarique Rahman, while a academician-cum-TV personality and editor of an English daily was included in the committee as experts.

It is learnt, BNP’s man in the US, Mushfique Fazal Ansary has reportedly told Tarique Rahman that the sanctions targeting several individuals in Bangladesh will be declared by the Department of Treasury on December 10.

Recently, Tarique Rahman has telephonic conversation with Pakistani spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, who was appointed in October 2022. During this conversation, Tarique Rahman sought ISI’s help for returning to power.

A source said, during the conversation, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum told Tarique Rahman currently his main focus is on Pakistan’s internal issues. He also suggested to focus on the 2024 general elections instead of hoping for change of the government through any “extra-ordinary” methods.

Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum also reminded Tarique Rahman that it was “politically unwise” for him to stay abroad for “such a long time”.

The source said, Tarique Rahman also tried to speak to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Qatari emir. But these requests were turned down by Riyadh and Doha. Later, a prominent leader of BNP had requested Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to arrange telephonic conversations between Tarique Rahman and Saudi and Qatari leaders. It also reminded Mahmoud Abbas that BNP has been “historically a trusted ally” of the Palestinian people, while its founder Ziaur Rahman was an “intimate friend” of Yasser Arafat.

It may be mentioned here that, although Yasser Arafat and Palestinian leaders were vehemently against Bangladesh’s war of independence and had branded Bangali freedom fighters as “terrorists”, General Ziaur Rahman invited and hosted Yasser Arafat as special guest during Bangladesh’s celebration of victory day on a number of occasions. In return, Yasser Arafat had promoted Ziaur Rahman to Libyan dictator Muammar al Gaddafi and Iraqi leader Saddam Hossain as “Muslim hero” and “great friend of the Palestinian people”. Through Zia, Libyan dictator Gaddafi wanted to transform Bangladesh into an Islamic republic.

Following the August 15, 1975 assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman had taken help from Yasser Arafat in convincing Muammar Gaddafi is granting shelter to self-proclaimed killers of the Father of the Nation. At the request of Yasser Arafat and Zia, Libyan dictator Gaddafi had granted asylum and provided huge fund and business opportunities to the self-proclaimed killers of Bangabandhu.

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