THE immediate past US Ambassador Dan W Mozena passed a crucial period for Bangladesh’s democracy in his 37-month tenure that started from November 24, 2011. During the time, the country experienced upsurge of Islamic groups against oppression on them. He also witnessed the political turmoil originated from the abolishing of caretaker government that resulted in one-sided elections under the party government, and a volatile economy which had its origins from the collapse of Rana Plaza and the inferno of Tazreen Fashions.
Ambassador Mozena is one of the few ambassadors of the United States to Bangladesh who visited 64 districts of the country and directly contacted with the ordinary people across the country.
As an ambassador of the superpower, Mozena, besides his responsibilities in Dhaka, talked about the US government’s policy for holding inclusive elections, ensuring human rights, infrastructural development and the need for promoting trade interests of the country that made him controversial to pro-Awami Leaguers.
The US Ambassador also worked to advance the interests of the people of America, Bangladesh and the region by promoting a Bangladesh that is peaceful, secure, prosperous, healthy and democratic. He and his staff worked hard to forge strong partnerships with the Bangladesh government and civil society to bolster Bangladeshi food security and nutrition, improve health, and increase our capacity to cope with climate change, natural disasters and other security challenges. He tried to do all this in spite of the fact that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh did not care to give him an audience. Diplomatically he proved weak and simple.
“It is not any mythical idea but a reality of near future that Bangladesh is going to emerge as the next Asian economic tiger,” said the ambassador recently. He appeared unrealistic in his optimism and as a result Bangladesh people did not hear the truth from him about what should be done to be so optimistic.
