A delegation of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met US ambassador Peter Haas at his official residence in Dhaka. BNP’s Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid also attended the meeting. Although US embassy in its press release said, during the meeting issues related to holding a free, fair and transparent national election was emphasized, according to a credible source, BNP leader Shama Obaid requested the US ambassador to considering suspending imports from Bangladesh “at least for three months” once the schedule for holding “another one-sided” election without participation of Bangladesh Nationalist Party is declared.
BNP leaders also assured Ambassador Peter Haas that the party will “respect requests from Washington” in regards to abstaining from having any further development projects with India and Russia, while it will openly declare solidarity with Western “initiatives” against Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Shama Obaid further said, “since America is the biggest donor and investor in Bangladesh and a major importer of apparel from the country, withdrawing financial assistance and investments and stopping imports would compel Awami League in transferring power to a government of national unity, which will hold a free and fair election by the end of this year”.
She further said, unless Washington takes stern measures immediately, Awami League will repeat another rigged election with the collaboration of Jatiya Party and other leftist political forces.
The BNP delegation also said that despite rivalries, India, China and Russia are working in favor of Awami League government.
BNP’s frantic efforts in Washington
Our Special Contributor Anita Mathur said, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)’s representatives William B Milam and Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey are making frantic efforts in Washington DC with the target of convincing US policymakers in suspending imports from Bangladesh for “several months” if Awami League government disagrees to transfer power to a “caretaker government” or “non-partisan government” for holding the next general election.
Mathur said, Milam and Ansarey are regularly meeting aides of senators and members of congress as well as officials at the State Department, while they have appointed a PR agency in New York to coordinate media coverage against Awami League once the election schedule is announced.
Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey is currently holding press accreditation cards at the White House and the United Nations as the “US Correspondent” of a website named “Just News”, which Ansarey claims to be running from Bangladesh. Additionally, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey has recently received appointment letters as US correspondent from a Bangla tabloid daily from Bangladesh while he has been offered the same post by a leading Bangla daily newspaper.
