“Let me be clear, the United States will not pick a side in the upcoming elections. We simply hope for a democratic process that allows the Bangladeshi people to freely decide who will run their country,” said the ambassador.
He made the remarks while addressing a seminar.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the seminar on “Bangladesh and the United States Relations: Moving Towards Enhanced Cooperation and Partnership” at the BIISS Auditorium.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen spoke as the Chief Guest.
The US ambassador said the relations between the two countries grew with a series of recent engagements while two more important engagements will be held in the coming months.
Ambassador Haas said the two countries can enhance security cooperation.
The ambassador also talked about two proposed agreements – General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) which are essential” to enabling a closer defence relationship, expanding opportunities for defence trade, information sharing, and military-to-military cooperation between two countries.
He said there are many misperceptions about these two proposed agreements.
The US Ambassador also said, “There is no scope for repealing the sanctions against Rab, without concrete actions and accountability.”
“We want to see a Rab which is capable of combating terrorism but which is also capable of respecting basic human rights,” said Haas.
Just prior to his remark Rab Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun spoke about how Rab had established an internal inquiry cell to ensure accountability of Rab personnel in 2011, with US cooperation.
He said that under the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, a total of 147 Rab personnel have been trained on basic interviewing skills and human rights.
“The trained personnel have been distributed across Rab to ensure transparency and uphold human rights credentials,” said the Rab DG.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, also present at the event, commented that it was the former US Ambassador James F Moriarty who had called Rab the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) of Bangladesh.
“Rab has since then done an excellent job at combating terrorism. Maybe we have to look at it more closely to see how to increase accountability…but this is a great institution,” said Momen.
“Let us have a road – you tell me where the gap is and we will try to work with you,” he said.
Peter Haas also said that the Rab sanctions do not mean that the US and Bangladesh will not continue strong law enforcement security cooperation.
“We will continue to work with Bangladesh to combat violent terrorism, combat transnational crime and enhance security. We will continue our support to the transnational crime police and to the anti-terrorism unit and the specialized police units in Chattogram, Sylhet and Rajshahi. The signing of a proposed memorandum of agreement would facilitate our assistance training program and to donate new equipment to the police,” said Haas.
He also said, “The US is not perfect. We have embarked on our own democratic renewal. This journey ensures tackling our own issues with police accountability. We are inviting other countries in the world to make similar commitments.”
“Holding an election consistent with international standards is not just about ballot day – truly fair elections involve creating a space where civic discourse can take place, where journalists can investigate without fear, and the ability of the civil society institutions to advocate. In Bangladesh the elections have already started,” said Haas. He welcomed the law minister’s commitment to reform the DSA to prevent abuse of the law.
Momen responded to Haas’ comment about holding impartial elections by saying, “You are most welcome to come with your observers. We want to see and improve.”
The US ambassador also spoke about the need for signing two defence treaties called ACSA and GSOMIA that are foundational agreements for defence trade and cooperation.
He called the treaties “building blocks”. GSOMIA would set the ground rule for exchanging sensitive data about military operations, said Haas, while ACSA will allow exchange of fuel and food.
He said that they are not like the “broad vague defence agreement that Bangladesh signed with China in 2002”, referring to the “China-Bangladesh Defence Cooperation Agreement” which covers military training and defence production.
Haas also said that Bangladesh is not being able to capitalize on US relations because of labour rights violations.
“The DFC (US International Development Finance Corporation) has a US$4 billion active portfolio in South Asia across multiple sectors including clean energy, healthcare and agriculture. The DFC cannot operate in Bangladesh because of a lack of labour rights,” he said.
He added that the embassy will include the first full-time attache from the US department of commerce this summer, to increase two-way trade and investment.
Former ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain, Chairman of BIISS, led the event, while former ambassadors Humayun Kabir, Tariq A. Karim, former election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, Director Gneral of BIIS Maj Gen Mohammad Masudur Rahman and Dhaka University professor Ruksana Kibria also spoke at the event.
