US made mistakes during 1/11 events : former US diplomat
Jon F Danilowicz, a former U.S. diplomat, has said that the United States made some mistakes in its foreign policy towards Bangladesh during '1/11' events, which occurred between 2007 and 2008.
He mentioned that, at that time, the U.S. government did not pay enough attention to institutional reforms.
He added that the current interim government is learning from those mistakes, supported by the people.
He made these remarks on Saturday during a special dialogue organized by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS).
The event, titled "Dialogue with Mylam and John," was held at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BISS) auditorium and focused on "The Current Dynamics of Bangladesh-U.S. Relations After the People’s Movement."
The discussion was moderated by CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman, and the speakers included former U.S. Ambassador William B. Milam and former U.S. diplomat Jon F Danilowicz.
The event was attended by diplomats from various foreign missions in Bangladesh, politicians, academics, business leaders, members of international development organizations, civil society, the media, and university students.
Ambassadors William B. Milam and Jon F Danilowicz shared their views on the United States' long-term commitment to democracy in Bangladesh during a recent discussion. They highlighted the role of international partnerships and policy perspectives in supporting Bangladesh’s democracy.
Ambassador William B. Milam spoke about efforts to raise awareness about Bangladesh’s democratic processes among the American public. "We formed a small organization and worked to inform the U.S. public about Bangladesh’s democratic process. Over the last five years, we have provided funding and continued working to support this initiative," he said.
He also mentioned, "I am pleased to be here. Especially after not being able to visit Bangladesh for the last decade due to visa issues."
Milam pointed out that gathering reliable information was the biggest challenge, as he had to ensure that the information shared with his government was accurate. "At that time, the government tried to pressure me to take their side," he added.
Jon F Danilowicz emphasized the importance of democratic stability, noting that U.S. policy towards Bangladesh has remained consistent since 1971. One of the toughest challenges in Bangladesh’s political environment is the lack of accountability from the ruling party. "To develop democracy, a strong military-civilian relationship is essential. Authoritarian rule is never supportive of democracy," he said.
He further noted that Bangladesh is currently facing an information war, and the U.S. government is working to address misleading media-driven information. He stated that U.S. President Donald Trump's statement regarding U.S. funding for specific individuals in Bangladesh was misleading and propagated by some groups seeking to destabilize relations between the two countries. "The false propaganda about U.S. military activities on St. Martin's Island is just misinformation spread by some groups with an agenda," Jon F Danilowicz added. He argued that the former government spread confusion against foreign countries to hide its own corruption and irregularities.
Danilowicz also said that the U.S. and Bangladesh could work more closely on democracy and human rights issues. "Authoritarian rule is never in the U.S. interest," he stated, acknowledging that there were mistakes in U.S. foreign policy regarding Bangladesh in 2007-08.
He noted, "At that time, the U.S. government did not pay enough attention to institutional reforms. The current interim government is learning from those mistakes with the support of the people."
He emphasized that U.S. and EU funding policies should align with ongoing reforms, and civil society should take a more active role. "The recovery of assets laundered abroad over the last 17 years should be used for governance reforms," he added.
Zillur Rahman reiterated the importance of initiatives that promote good governance development and emphasized that discussions like these play a crucial role in guiding Bangladesh's ongoing political transformation. He stressed the need for continuous dialogue to support the country’s democratic journey and ensure a sustainable and accountable governance framework.
News Courtesy:
US made mistakes during 1/11 events : former US diplomat