***For Bangladeshis, politics abroad is not different from politics at home. The home-style politics which already created considerable tension and triggered skirmishes in the Bangladesh community in the United States may be a potential cause for crime in future on a foreign soil.***

Opposition leader Khai eda Zia returns home with a bittersweet memory of her Just-concluded visit to the United States. While the BNP chief will be saddened for leaving behind in America a community of Bangladeshi immigrants lust as divided as her party's US unit, she will be happy for successfully preaching her and her party's messages she carried all the way from Bangladesh

The hallmark of her 12 day coast to coast trip was inaugu ration of a conference of the Federation of Bangladesh Associations in North America (FOBANA) in Los Angeles But as Khaleda kicked off the three day annual event at Burbank Airport Hilton and Convention Center on August 29. another conference of Bangladeshi expatriates began simultaneously — Just a few miles away — at a recreation center.

Meanwhile, an intra party squabble that had been going on for sometime within the US branch of BNP surfaced trans parently as the party chairperson set her foot at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport on Aug 26 to begin her unofficial visit. Factional lead-

ers followed by their respective supporters raced against each other to garland Khaleda Zia leaving her and other members of her entourage In a state of utter confusion

But Begum Zia didn't keep herself busy only with trying to resolve her party's internal crisis and meeting the Bangladeshis In North America. She also met with Bill Richardson — the permanent representative of tne United States to the United Nations who maintains a close connection with President Clinton — and UN officials. A politician-turned-diplomat, Richardson visited Bangladesh as a troubleshooter during a government-opposition standoff about a couple of years ago when Khaleda Zia was In power

Wherever the BNP chief went to and whoever she met with In America during her visit, she pin-pointed the failure of the

government in every field and carried on her high-profile campaign for her party BNP is not a party which is pro- or anti-lndla or any other country. It is a pro-Bangladesh and Bangladeshi organization which believes in the principle of equality and cooperation with all countries of the world Including the next-door neighbours.'' she declared in clear terms while making her speech at the FOBANA conference in Los Angeles

Nevertheless, she reaffirmed her persistent opposition to the Indo-Bangladesh water accord and the much talked-about four-nation sub regional group comprising Bangladesh. India. Nepal and Bhutan. Referring to the transit facility. Khaleda Zia said while India opens its corridor to Bangladesh's Angore-pota and Danagram for only one hour each day on its "national security ground,'' it

wants (a round the-clock) access not only to Chittagong port but also to its eastern regions through Bangladesh We consider the security of our state as an issue of utmost importance, she asserts

We have been pushed Into our final battle for our survival as a nation.'' she said, suggesting: "As in 1971. the Bangladeshi expatriates have a great role to play in this regard as well." "Bangladesh s independence. democracy all are vulnerable today to a multi-directional attack." Begum Zia told the Bangladeshi immigrants and called upon them to take a vow to repulse it She stressed on unity among the expatriates for the welfare of their own and the nation.

But unfortunately Bangladesh's party politics in the United States and Canada is undercutting unity among Bangladeshis in North America

as elsewhere in the world. FOBANA itself is a victim of it. Although its so-called united 11 th conference took place on a single platform in Los Angeles, most North American Awaml Leaguers either stayed out of it or Joined the parallel conference which was inaugurated by Bangladesh s Los Angeles Consul General Mohammad Al Harun. That conference organized by a faction of Bangladesh Association of Los Angeles received a message of congratulation from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while FOBANA was left out.

For Bangladeshis, politics abroad is not different from politics at home. The homestyle politics which already created considerable tension and triggered skirmishes in the Bangladesh community in the United States may be a potential cause for crime in future on a foreign soil. It not only stands

as a roadblock In the way of unity of the expatriates but ,Jso harms their intra-community friendship, fraternity and harmony. The more the party politics of Bangladesh flourishes in America, the weaker the Bangladesh community gets there.

Interestingly, out of the expatriates from the three subcontinental countries — India. Pakistan and Bangladesh — only Bangladeshis are involved In direct party politics of their country. The Indians have Friends of Congress Party and Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party while the Pakistanis have Friends of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) although both are much larger communities than the Bangladeshis. As a result. they are much more united than the Bangladeshis, and therefore, have much stronger lobbies in the United States.

Celebrities traveled 12.000 miles all the way from Bangladesh to present their best before the expatriates at the Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles. But they too got split because of a split snow of Bangladeshis As a result, the great joy of a great gathering was also divided.