US Allies Flag Bangladesh’s Move Towards Autocracy, Pin Hopes On India For Stability In South Asia
A senior official from a major US ally in the Indo-Pacific, speaking anonymously to CNN-News18, mentioned the rise of radical Islamic organisations, such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), which was banned in 2009 but recently held a march in Dhaka
The closest allies of the United States in the India-Pacific region are worried over the situation unfolding in Bangladesh and believe it is heading towards autocracy. These allies are also closely watching India’s assessment of the situation in Bangladesh, given that India is critical to stability in South Asia.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Md Yunus, who has strong ties with the United States and is favoured by Democrats, has struggled to gain support from the Donald Trump administration. Despite his connections, Yunus has only managed to speak to Elon Musk about business interests in Bangladesh, and has not secured conversations with Trump or other senior officials. Also, the US State Department has twice urged Bangladesh to adhere to human rights regulations, raising alarms among US allies.
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A senior official from a major US ally in the Indo-Pacific, speaking anonymously to CNN-News18, expressed concerns over the handling of the situation by Yunus’s government. The official mentioned fears of Bangladesh heading towards autocracy and the rise of radical Islamic organisations, such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), which was banned in 2009 but recently held a march in Dhaka.
With the region already facing instability in Pakistan and Afghanistan, there is worry that another country under authoritarian rule and radical Islamist influence would be detrimental. The senior official, who participated in the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, emphasised that India’s perspective is crucial.
Bangladesh’s strategic location in the Bay of Bengal makes it a key player in the Indo-Pacific strategy of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. However, since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, the country has faced increased communal violence, instability, political crimes, extremism, inflation, unemployment, and zero growth, attributed to the failed policies of Md Yunus.
Yunus has lost the support he once enjoyed, with mainstream parties like BNP pressuring him to announce elections. The military and Yunus’s advisers are at odds, and the support from the US has waned since Trump assumed power.
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