U.S. envoy's remarks raise hackles in Dhaka

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, JUNE 15. With the Sheikh Hasina's Awami League Government on its last leg before general elections, Western diplomats here have voiced concern that the election should be credible and transparent, without which, they felt, foreign investment might not be forthcoming.

Envoys from the European Union have hinted that they will send poll observers. The E.U., one of Bangladesh's biggest development partners, has also asked the leading political parties to avoid confrontation and practice tolerance so that democracy and development can go hand in hand. Ms. Mary Ann Peters, U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, has even advice for the next Government already. She has suggested a ``five-point action economic agenda'' in the areas of ports, power, garments, natural gas and phones that the next Government must give priority to in its first 100 days. ``I realise that this list is not sacrosanct, but I offer it as a starting point for the new Government''. The U.S. Ambassador's comments have provoked criticism from left- leaning political parties, intellectuals and student organisations but Ms. Peters maintains that her plan is good for Bangladesh's economy.

On the question of foreign poll observers, the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina has been positive. ``We will welcome as many as they come...,'' she said but added in a lighter vein, ``We are getting lots of advice now when democracy is fully functioning. But where were they when Bangladesh was under military and pseudo-democratic rule and elections were just a farce?'' On the U.S. envoy's remarks, Sheikh Hasina said every political party had its own election manifesto on which basis it would run the government. She did not elaborate, however.

The main Opposition leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, who has sought the presence of foreign poll observers, has maintained a silence over the U.S. Ambassador's comments. But smaller political parties and left-leaning organisations and intellectuals have termed the comments ``most undiplomatic'' and ``interference in internal matters''. The U.S. envoy while making her remarks public also said the forthcoming elections were going to be crucial for Bangladesh's emerging democratic institutions. She expressed confidence that the country would rise to this challenge by holding a free and fair election.

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Section  : International
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