& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Dynamics of Bangladesh-US Relations

by Mansoor Mamoon
**Analysts maintain Clinton's visit and the Washington's new found interests in Bangladesh have some specific objectives of far reaching import. Washington is desperately looking for alternate source of energy namely the natural gas and Bangladesh has ample proven reserve of it. Several American companies have made substantial investment in the exploration of gas and more are in line with their investment provided the Bangladesh government allow them to export it to India. Bangladesh market is relatively small for the huge investment that these companies will be required to make for siphoning off their profit. So they are clamouring for expansion of their market which in other word means permission to export to India.**
IN 1991 In the aftermath of the great cyclone that badly battered the country's coastal areas and the offshore islands when the US marines and troops came rushing from Kuwait to take part In relief activities under Operation Sea Angel). the Awaini League, then in the opposition, was on record to have raised great hue and cry that the sovereignty of the country was at peril and that Parliament should have been duly consulted before the arrival of foreign troops notwithstanding their motive. Barely ten years after that hullabaloo the entire scenario has underwent a dramatic change. The AL Is now in power and its glee in receiving the US President in the soil of Bangladesh has apparently made it oblivious of the country's sovereignty issue of which it claims the sole monopoly. According to independent newspaper reports the US troops and intelligence agency personnel in their scores have taken over the charge of the security of their President during his brief stay in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government reportedly does not know how many of them have already arrived,’ whether they carry necessary visa and what latest devices and gadgets they have brought in with them.
The Prime Minister expressed her helpness when her party leaders requested her for arranging their meeting with Clinton, she reportedly told them that the entire itinerary had been set by the White House
without consultation with her government. The Foreign Ministry also openly expressed its Ignorance .Such Is tne position of the government vis-a-vis President Clinton's visit. The second bid reading of the gas blocks Is being completed al a break-neck speed to facilitate the signing of the PSCs (Production Sharing Contracts) with four US oil companies for exploration and drilling of natural gas in a number of blocks in presence of Clinton. Defence cooperation and other matters are also known to be up In the sleeve of US President. Clinton Administration has described Bangladesh as a traditional friend (Karl inderfurth ) which is bound to raise eyebrows among the people here. Barely three decades ago the United States tried to block the independence of Bangladesh and entered into an unholy alliance with the then Islamabad military Junta for protecting the integrity of one Pakistan.
Even Its Seventh Fleet started cruising In aid of the occupation army. But their ignominious surrender before it could reach the shore put a brake on the deadly expedition It was the cold war and US geopolitical interests (the expansion Of Indo-Soviet orbit on the one hand and Pakistan's good offices for US-Chlna thaw on the other) were behind Washington's taking a strong antiBangladesh posture. But then in the diplomacy there is no permanent enmity nor is there eternal friendship. Vietnam
twenty-five years ago fought against US occupation. Today the two countries' relations have normalised and the US Defence Secretary Cohen undertook a visit to that country. After liberation the United States was Initially hesitant to accord diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh. The Awami League government led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was greatly embarrassed when Henry Kissinger had described Bangladesh as an International basket case incapable of standing on its own feet. But Sheikh Hasina did not hesitate to receive the UNESCO Peace Award from the very same Kissinger, who once derided her father's regime.
Some in the Awami Leaguers had all along been blaming USA for the famine of 1974 as well as the CIA for masterminding the killing of their leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The present Awami League leadership in its euphoria to receive Clinton prefers to forget the past in its expediency of making political gains out of the first ever visit of a President from the United States.
Analysts maintain Clinton's visit and the Washington's new found interests in Bangladesh have some specific objectives of far reaching import. Washington Is desperately looking for alternate source of energy namely the natural gas and Bangladesh has ample proven reserve of it. Several American companies have made substantial investment in the exploration of gas and more are in line with their investment provided the Bangladesh government allow them to export It to India. Bangladesh market is relatively small for, the huge Investment that these, companies will be required to make for siphoning off their profit. So they are clamouring for expansion of their market which In other word means permission to export to India.
The US capital wants to turn India into its next big bazaar. But India Is currently undergoing a serious crunch of energy. President Clinton will, therefore. exert his influence for the export promotion of US Oil companies. Washington is rather keen to bring the entire South Asia region into a single unified grid to promote its energy option . With this end in view, it organised and sponsored the South Asia Energy Conference in Kathmandu early in March this year, where export of gas through a network of extensive pipeline figured prominently together with the possibility of the exploitation of the vast potential of Nepal and Bhutan's hydro-power with US Investment. According to information the PSCs to be initialed and signed with the foreign companies regarding award of blocks have rekindled hopes among them that eventually the Bangladesh government will capitulate in not too distant a future and will ultimately agree to the pressure for export of gas to Indla(BBC. March 13 ). Experts have In one voice objected to the award of gas blocks to foreign companies on many counts.
They strongly maintain that Bangladesh has the necessary expertise to explore its own gas reserves. If the country can build such a huge construction like the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge, it can also mobilise enough funds to carry out Its own exploration and must not hand over the only resource that the country now has to foreign companies to the detriment of national Interests PSCs now being offered favours the foreign companies which will reap enormous profit in comparison to what they will Invest . They obviously have the profit motive uppermost in their mind albeit their hanging of the carrot that by exporting and utilising hydrocarbons the country will soon reach the stage of a middle income country .Political elements who oppose the move, maintain that in the event of such a development (export of gas by American oil companies) Bangladesh is likely to meet the fate of Nigeria, Venezuela and Indonesia, where a handful reaped the windfall gains while the vast majority still languish in abject poverty. Experts and politicos equally are of the opinion that consenting to the export of gas without assessing Its actual reserves and keeping in mind the next fifty years' domestic demands will be simply suicidal for Bangladesh. But can Bangladesh government afford to take a negative stand In the ; face of Joint Indo-US pressure? ; Resources of Bangladesh very much belong to its people .If gas could have been better utilised Inside the country through building necessary Infrastructure It could easily strengthen the economic moorings generating employment opportunities for the people. Bangladesh could also have opted for gas based electricity and fertilizer factories . petro-chemlcals etc rather than feeding with gas these plants in India, the export of which would fetch more money . The experts also apprehend that export of gas is likely to exhaust the entire reserves within twenty-five to thirty years after which Bangladesh might be required to procure energy al a far higher rate and cost. Petroleum products and hydrocarbons are already becoming scarce, their prices being almost equal. (On March 7. petroleum prices Jumped to over thirty US dollars a barrel).
The people, therefore, have a right to know how the gas blocks are being awarded to the American oil companies. According to reports the people are completely in the dark and the parliament has also been by-passed In this regard (even though it has been largely turned into a one party affair). The previous BNP government also did the same and now the Awami League is following suit. Along with gas. the United States is also seeking an outlet to the sea for its business interests tn South Asia, particularly for the north-eastern region of India. The Calcutta port has choked up and is no longer in a position to meet the Increasing demand in the coming days, particularly following the expected rush of US Investment In India. The government is under tremendous pressure to finalise the deal with the US company SSA for a private sector terminal at the confluence of the Karnaphuly river. This Is likely to make the existing Chittagong port greatly redundant and the
port workers belonging to all political parties are putting up stiff resistance against the move Even the Mayor of the Chittagong City Corporation, a veteran Awami Leaguer, has termed it as against the sovereignty of.the country. The Chittagong port officials strongly maintain that Instead of building a new terminal if the money to be so spent is invested for developing , modernising and renovating the existing port it will in all respect serve the purpose better . The reason for going for a separate terminal is that it is in the Joint interest of the US-Indian new business coalition, maintain analysts. Apart from gas. President Clinton is presumed to have some other vital things In his mind . According to newspaper reports he will also be seeking defence cooperation between Bangladesh and United States like Joint military exercises In the Bay of Bengal and training of military personnel. HANA (Humanitarian Assistance Need Assessmentland SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) which Dhaka rejected earlier under pressure from India. is likely to resurface during Clinton's talks with Haslna
The United States has objected to defence purchases from India. Russia and Chipa and is likely to insist on going for military hardware from Washington Instead. It is known to all quarters that such visits are designed for fostering arms sale and Clinton's trip to Bangladesh will be no exception. But what did not come up prominently is the US intention to have naval base or proper monitoring facilities in the Bay of Bengal to counter as well as to maintain strict vigilance over China's reportedly increasing presence in the area. But Dhaka restrained Itself as it did not like to antagonise Beijing . Despite its many attempts the United States has failed to make inroads into the People's Republic of China. Strong leadership coupled with accelerated economic growth in China thwarted all past US attempts to checkmate China. The Taiwan issue and the growing economic power of China which is fast catching up with the GNP of the United States have greatly unnerved Washington. It is. therefore, seriously contemplating to win over India in its game plan against China .All the Marxist and Leninist parties in India including CPI and CPI (M) have, therefore, decided to stage demonstrations against Chnton's visit as well as to boycott his scheduled the Lok Sabha address. Different Muslim organisations in India have also chalked out similar programmes of antl-Clinton demonstration.
Karl Inderfurth has described Bangladesh as a moderate Muslim state This description is significant After the cold war the United States has identified the Muslims and the Chinese as its new enemies following the dictum of Samuel P Huntington (vide his book — The Clash of Civilization) . In its frenzy of hatred towards
Pakistan- a Muslim state, the Hindutva BJP leadership In India is seriously vying for US back-up and support. The Indian front ranking Marxist -Leninist leader Dipankar Bhattacharjee has alleged that the United States is conspiring to use India as its base against China and Pakistan, and present BJP led NDA government in Delhi has agreed to be a party to it. The government . he claimed . is nearing to signing CTBT to please USA . The South Asian scenario in the coming days is. therefore, destined to take a highly volatile and murky shape. To quote Clinton it is already "the most dangerous trouble spot in the world' with both Pakistan and India possessing nuclear striking power . If knowingly or unknowingly Bangladesh becomes a party to this Indo-US game E)lan arid strategy it will in the ong run spell disaster for the country. There is. therefore, every reason for Bangladesh to maintain equidistance from the geo-polltico-economic interests of the supranational and sub-regional powers. But the present leadership, both in the government and in the mainstream opposition, seems to be least concerned about the lurking danger in its mad race for clinging and climbing to power supposedly with US blessings putting a blind eye to long term national Interest.