Sunday Snippets: American shadow over Bangladesh elections!
By Venkatesh Raghavan
This Sunday the topic of our discussion was Bangladesh as Amir and I enjoyed a healthy Irani breakfast in the Cafe. Our conversation gradually veered to the state of affairs in the neighbouring country which is slated to conduct its general elections.
Amir: The United States has evinced keen interest in the forthcoming Bangladesh elections. They pronounced that they will ensure a free and fair polling exercise by restricting the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh. This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services.
Me: In the current global situation, I feel Pakistan is the only country that will be able to hold free and fair elections.
Amir: You seem to be making an irrelevant remark. Again it has me in riddles. How can an army-controlled regime hope for free and fair elections?
Me: Since there is no money in the country, Pakistan by default will have free elections. No one can even afford to think about the costing part. Secondly, there’s no money, which means there will be no corruption to deal with. The people of Pakistan will really have a free election as there is no one to splurge freebies on the polling masses.
Amir: Are you suggesting that the Bangladesh economy should be made to crash like that of Pakistan in the interests of holding free and fair elections?
Me: Amir, You have to think out of the box, to understand what I am hinting at or implying.
Amir: I am unable to even see any box. It’s pointless trying to demarcate an area outside the box. You better explain what’s in your mind.
Me: Pakistan has no money and is forced to conduct free elections. Bangladesh has to simulate a similar condition to achieve free and fair elections. It’s just a simple scientific principle to prepare ideal conditions that can be conducive to the end result.
Amir: How exactly do you propose to bring about such a simulation? No one in their right mind would want to simulate what you are asking for.
Me: It’s a very simple act of faith. Do you remember when the CIA had promised all military and defence equipment and protection will be provided by the US free of cost in exchange for an agreement that Gulf countries will trade oil only in US dollars as a reserve currency?
Amir: I fail to see the connection you are trying to make. In fact, your line of thought makes it sound as if there is no box, leave alone “out of the box”.
Me: It’s elementary. Instead of trying to put a cramp on Visas, the Americans have to lure Bangladeshi migrants surviving on their soil that all their money in excess of their sustenance should get deposited in American banks till the ballot boxes are filled, and counting is completed. What comes in the way of free and fair is plush funding which the politicians seek to influence the poll results. Even rigging does not occur without any financial gains to the people indulging in it. In exchange for this favour, Bangladesh citizens can avail of duty-free imports for one month or so.
Amir: You are overlooking the rich local Bangladeshis who can still use their funds to impact the outcome of the polling process.
Me: That’s not a problem. The US observers can ensure that no banking transactions take place in Bangladesh one month prior to and following the polls. It simulates a condition where no one can part with any money. Duty-free imports are a strong enough carrot, be it even one month.
Amir: But I still need clarification on the American move. They claim their move is a signal on their part that they support free, fair, and peaceful elections in Bangladesh, and they have the ability to hold anyone accountable who hinders any free, fair election in the country.
Me: The Americans know that the elections will be rigged. As a journalist pointed out, I agree that their preemptive strike is in a way a warning to the government and the prime minister of Bangladesh.
Amir: But the Americans have denied this.
Me: Denial is not just a river in Egypt my dear friend. You know it.
