Commentary: Mr Biegun`s visit should throw new light on our relationship with the United States

The United States considers Bangladesh as the centerpiece of its Indo-Pacific Strategy in which all countries prosper side by side as sovereign and independent nations, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E. Biegun, who made a three-day visit to Bangladesh, said this at a press conference in Dhaka on Thursday. He said the country’s geostrategic location and robust economic growth and stability have made it more attractive to the US in this region. He said the US is actively engaging with Bangladesh in all fronts and look forward to next 50 years and beyond as a strong regional partner.
Beigun said US legal department is considering repatriation of Rashed Chowdhury – one of the killers of Bangabandhu and now living in the USA. Taken away life is the easy violation of the most important human right-right to life. Since the creation of Bangladesh even under Bangabandhu, special government agency was maintained for extra judicial killing. Sadly, Bangabandhu was killed in the process of a military coup in which Awami League government lost power. But for a normal government to treat secret killing as governance must be punished for every such killing. Thousands of

people lost their near ones without a trace. The country has become a terrorised country. The people live in fear. This situation must change.
It is expected for tenable relation between Bangladesh and the USA that human rights violation should be taken as a major consideration. They must insist on punishing all extra-judicial killings. Our people for their struggle are natural friends of the United States.
We have many issues and many grievances as a victim of one sided India dominated regional politics. We are helpless to decide our own fate.
We welcome the presence of the USA in our regional relationship. We do not like it but for India’s own wrong policy of taking friendship with government as everything the relationship with India is unhappy one. Now the government does not need election for the people’s legitimacy.
Mr Stephen E Biegun’s visit is also significant because the political situation in Bangladesh is in turmoil and worrying. There is no politics for political solution.
For any meaningful and lasting regional peace we must have peace in our own country. Bangladesh has to be accepted as a democracy loving country. He must not go back with false ideas and wrong assessments for the convenience of diplomacy.