The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syed Zahirul Abedin

Bangladesh is a country in an area of globe vital to US interests, said Ambassador-designate of the United States to Bangladesh James F Moriarty on Wednesday.

Taking part in a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at Dirksen Senate Office Building on Wednesday for being confirmed as new US Ambassador for Bangladesh, Moriarty said the US interests in Bangladesh revolve around three, inter-twined "d's": democracy, development, and denial of space to terrorism. The seventh-most populous country in the world, Bangladesh is overwhelmingly Muslim and has in the recent past been grindingly poor.

"If, under such conditions, it succeeds in building a tolerant, prosperous democracy, it will serve as a shining beacon for much of the world. If it fails in these tasks, it could become a nation of ungoverned space and a potential safehaven and crossroads for international terrorism," he told the committee, chaired by Senator John Kerry from Massachusetts.

Expressing his profound gratitude to President George W Bush for nominating him as an ambassador to Bangladesh, Moriarty said, "I deeply appreciate the trust President Bush and Secretary (Condolezza) Rice have shown in nominating me and, if confirmed, I will serve to the best of my abilities."

While delivering his speech before the chairman and members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the US Ambassador-designate said Bangladesh's State of Emergency continues today, more than a year after the current Caretaker Government assumed power. Under the State of Emergency, the Bangladesh government placed on freedom of expression and the right to engage in political activity. In August 2007, the Caretaker Government received a jarring wake-up call when the country erupted in violent protests. The government, with the strong support of the military, quickly restored order by imposing a curfew in the areas hit by rioting. But the demonstrations showed what can happen when legitimate means of expressing grievances are unavailable.

Before and after the protests, he said the US has consistently urged Bangladesh's Caretaker Government to lift the restrictions on basic rights, and on September 9, 2007, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed announced a partial relaxation of the ban on political activity. The US has welcomed this announcement and urged the Caretaker Government to move as quickly as possible to take additional steps to restore civic freedoms and democracy. In particular, the US has called upon Bangladesh's Caretaker Government to adhere to the electoral roadmap it announced in July last year. The roadmap promises national elections by the end of 2008.

"I am heartened by indications that the electoral roadmap remains on track," he said.

Referring to the Chief Adviser's address to the nation on January 11 last, Moriarty, who also served as US Ambassador to Nepal, said the Chief Adviser reiterated his commitment to hold elections that will restore, not replace, Bangladesh's democracy.

Besides, Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff has underscored that the military supports the Caretaker Government and that he does not personally seek political office.

The US Ambassador-designate said Bangladesh's efforts to register 90 million voters remain on track despite disruptions from Cyclone Sidr that left much of the southern part of the country in ruins last November.

Moriarty said there are encouraging signs that the Caretaker Government is cracking down on human rights abuses. Meanwhile, though, the US continues to insist the Bangladesh government investigate allegations of extrajudicial actions, or wrongful detention of individuals. The anti-corruption campaign remains popular, although the government must carefully follow due process.

Meanwhile, he said reformers within Bangladesh's major political parties are pushing to democratize the parties. The Caretaker Government has also responded positively to the parties' call for dialogue.

"While these are ultimately matters for the Bangladesh people to decide, the US is actively following these developments. We also continue to monitor the court cases brought against those detained during the State of Emergency, including the two former prime ministers. The US-along with like minded partners-has advised Bangladesh's Caretaker Government that it must meet international standards for due process, transparency and respect for human rights in all cases," he said.

On development issue, Ambassador-designate Moriarty said the US has provided roughly $5 billion in assistance to Bangladesh since its independence. Currently, the USAID manages a large food aid programme that targets the poorest of the poor, especially in the countryside where the effects of floods and other disasters are most severe.

Last year, he said the US government provided emergency relief to the millions of people whose livelihoods Cyclone Sidr destroyed. USAID immediately provided $19.5 million in aid and the US military immediately provided desperately needed airlift to deliver food, water and clothing to remote areas during Operation Sea Angel II. The US response to the crisis received widespread and exceedingly favourable media coverage in Bangladesh. This has helped cement the friendly ties between the two countries.

Ambassador Moriarty said the damages from Cyclone Sidr has been estimated at billions of dollars, and the government has asked donors to help rebuild agriculture and aquaculture industries, to reconstruct rural electrification networks and to mitigate future disasters. Bangladesh also needs help from donors to ensure that the most vulnerable of its citizens have adequate food security.

Turning to terrorism, Ambassador Moriarty said despite a long and

Admirable history of tolerance, Bangladesh has become a target of extremists in recent years. Poverty and political turmoil have provided some space for terrorists. Home-grown terrorists, called the Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) simultaneously exploded over 400 small bombs throughout the country in August 2005, and shortly thereafter, the JMB embarked on a terror campaign of suicide attacks against judges, other prominent figures, and crowded markets. The subsequent execution of six JMB leaders appears to have left the terrorist organization on run.

The Ambassador-designate said Bangladesh is committed to partnership with the United States in the Global War on Terror, and the vast majority of Bangladesh's citizens appear to have little sympathy for the terrorists. The Caretaker Government has identified counterterrorism as a top priority and has actively pursued extremists. "If confirmed, I will make it a priority to work with Bangladesh to help it counter the internal terrorist threat, while strengthening control of its borders and various ports of entry," he said.

"Mr Chairman, in closing let me say that I look forward very much to the challenges I will face if confirmed as US Ambassador to Bangladesh," he said.

Over the years, Moriarty said the people of Bangladesh have overcome many daunting obstacles in their search for better lives. "I feel strongly that it is in the US national interest to work with them to help build a Bangladesh where democracy flourishes, where no child goes to bed hungry, and where no terrorist can find safehaven. If confirmed, I will work closely with Congress in pursuit of these goals," he said.