On December 10, 2021, the US authorities aka Joe Biden administration introduced monetary sanctions and different restrictions on 15 people and 10 entities in China, Myanmar, North Korea, and Bangladesh. Which coincided with Worldwide Human Rights Day. Days earlier than imposing sanctions, Biden held his much-ballyhooed summit on “democracy” the place is invited quite a few controversial nations, together with terror-patron Pakistan.
Whereas nearly all of the democratic nations had been ignored on this humorous summit, taking part in the democracy card has additionally exacerbated already severe tensions between the Biden administration and Russia and China. Each powers interpret the summit as an effort to enlist different nations in a hostile, containment coverage directed in opposition to them. In reality, this summit was the brazen hypocrisy of the US coverage on democracy, and the important thing cause behind this summit was truly not selling or encouraging democracy, as an alternative, it was a worldwide show-off of Joe Biden, a president whose approval scores are deep down the water.
The invitation checklist to Biden’s summit underscores that the USA’ double normal on democracy is alive and effectively. Though the administration excluded the entire governments which might be apparent, indeniable autocracies, among the invitees warranted a response of shock, if not outright disgust, from folks actually dedicated to democratic norms. Regardless of the State Division’s personal stories confirming that Pakistan and the Philippines are ceaselessly responsible of “extrajudicial killings” and different civil liberties abuses, representatives of each governments will take part within the summit. Likewise, Brazil is given the dignity of offering enter on democracy promotion regardless of its personal dramatic backsliding into authoritarian practices lately. Kosovo additionally made the invitation checklist, though key members of the nation’s political elite face costs of battle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity earlier than a global tribunal. Fees, on this case, embody the systematic homicide of prisoners of battle to promote their organs on the worldwide black market.
In line with political analysts, US leaders need India to develop into an lively member of a containment coverage directed in opposition to China. Each the Trump and Biden administrations lobbied aggressively to transform the Quadrilateral Safety Dialogue, generally generally known as the Quad, which has Japan, Australia, India, and the USA as members, right into a army alliance for that objective. Though the Quad has performed a rising variety of joint army workouts, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has to this point avoided making that coverage dedication, however Washington’s courtship continues. Brazil is a key financial and political participant within the Western Hemisphere, and Washington is very involved about President Jair Bolsonaro’s authorities and its rising financial ties with Russia and China. Given this geopolitical context, Biden administration officers won’t enable defects in both nation’s home governance to be an impediment to strategic targets.
Joe Biden has invited smaller international locations with extremely questionable democratic credentials to get America’s imprimatur for the democracy summit was to obediently comply with Biden’s management of vital worldwide points.
Joe Biden’s outrageous sanctions
The current sanctions and different restrictions introduced by the US Treasury Division and Division of State though have primarily focused a Chinese language firm with funding restrictions, which is linked to the mass authorities surveillance operations.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo stated that Treasury is utilizing its instruments to show and maintain accountable perpetrators of great human rights abuse. The measures embody a ban on journey to the US.
A reputable supply in Capitol Hill instructed me that the sanctions are meant to freeze the focused people and entities out of the worldwide monetary system. It additionally stated that the realm of sanction might get widened throughout the span of the following couple of months.
What ought to Bangladesh do for getting these sanctions eliminated?
The USA has additionally imposed sanctions on the Inspector Common of Police in addition to Bangladesh’s Particular Police Fast Motion Battalion (RAB) and 6 of its officers. It could be talked about right here that, RAB has been effectively combating terrorism and radical Islamic jihad. As the USA has been repeatedly proclaiming itself because the chief of world efforts of combating terrorism, non secular extremism, and radical Islamic jihad, by imposing sanctions on Fast Motion Battalion and 6 officers of this elite drive, Joe Biden administration definitely has proven its double-standard as soon as once more. In my private opinion, with Biden because the president of the US, the insurance policies of the USA have been extraordinarily doubtful and, in some circumstances, even outrageous, particularly after we see their dealing with of Houthi terrorists, Taliban jihadists, Hamas terrorists, and terror-patron Iran. It appears Biden’s America is extra lively in appeasing terrorism and radical Islamic jihad, as an alternative of combating these evil forces.
Instantly after the sanctioning announcement, Bangladesh has expressed dismay and referred to as the US ambassador to Dhaka, Earl R. Miller to convey the message of dissatisfaction.
Some analysts stated, the US may need very sick motives behind this. Bangladesh is an lively member of the China-run Bridge and Highway Initiative (BRI). Truly, Bangladesh didn’t present curiosity to hitch the US-led ‘QUAD’, which truly is an anti-China bloc. One other subject is that the US desires to signal two protection agreements with Bangladesh because the latter is in search of to purchase superior gear from the US as a part of its purpose to modernize the army by 2030. However Bangladesh didn’t present curiosity to signal the ‘Common Safety of Army Data Settlement (GSOMIA)’ and the ‘Acquisition Cross-Servicing Settlement (ACSA)’ settlement with the USA.
In my private opinion, the current sanctions on Fast Motion Battalion and few people in Bangladesh could be a results of a misunderstanding. It could even be a results of steady propaganda of sure vested curiosity teams and their lobbyists within the US. It’s impractical to assume, Washington has develop into hostile in the direction of Dhaka. As an alternative, we have to take quick steps in resolving this matter by way of efficient measures and pleasant dialogues. One level is vital to notice – the USA isn’t an enemy of Bangladesh. As an alternative, it is among the largest improvement companions. Out of whims, we must always not do something now which might complicate issues additional.