Speeches and Remarks

Trends in Post-Election Bangladesh
Remarks to the Asia Society by U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh James Moriarty

October 15, 2009

Executive Director Jack Garritty,
Asia Society Members,
Ambassador Qader,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for the invitation to join you this morning to discuss trends in post-election Bangladesh.

I hope my remarks will provoke a thoughtful discussion that reflects the Asia Society’s mission to promote understanding among the people, leaders and institutions of the United States and Asia.

It is an honor to address your distinguished membership. It has already been my sincere pleasure to share ideas with three global citizens who serve on the Asia Society’s Global Council.

Specifically, I value the insights provided by: Mr. Fazle Hasan Abed, the Founder and Chairperson of BRAC; Mr. Farooq Sobhan, the President of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute; and Dr. Muhammed Yunus, the Managing Director of Grameen Bank and the Founder and Director of Grameen Foundation. I look forward to our continued conversations.

I am currently in Washington to meet individuals inside and out of government who share a keen interest in Bangladesh.  The timing of my visit could not be better, coming on the heels of Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni’s successful visit here last month and the Prime Minister’s equally productive visit to New York.  

I cannot think of an occasion when so much senior level attention was paid to Bangladesh in such a short period of time.
This is a clear recognition of the importance of Bangladesh and the significance of the democratic transition that took place earlier this year.

We must now look for ways to build upon the momentum from these recent visits and to help chart the way forward in U.S.-Bangladesh relations.

Last week, I attended a conference at Harvard University organized by the Bangladesh Development Initiative, the Democracy and Development in Bangladesh Forum, and the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation. The conference was entitled “Ideas and Innovations for the Development of Bangladesh: The Next Decade.”

The message that resonated throughout the conference was the need for capital to spur development and opportunity in Bangladesh. This includes social capital in addition to financial investment. The American Bangladeshi diaspora community can be an enormous resource in this regard.

Secretary Clinton envisions a vibrant public-private partnership that will draw upon the diaspora community and which will serve as a foundation for the bilateral relationship. We are interested in creative ways to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist in Bangladesh. And so in as much as I will be speaking today, I will be in listening mode and I welcome your ideas.

My reflections today are based on my experience over the past 18 months as the U.S. Ambassador in Dhaka and through the lens of more than three decades of public service. I have spent a good part of my career looking at South Asia.

I have served in Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh and I held responsibility for South Asia at the National Security Council.

Prior to my current appointment, I served a brief, but intense, period as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia. The region never fails to fascinate and challenge and I believe there has never been a more exciting time to serve there.

Under President Obama’s direction, I have focused our efforts in Bangladesh on the “3Ds”: democracy, development and denial of space to terrorism.  These are the pillars of our bilateral relationship and they have guided our two newly elected administrations over the past nine months.

The concepts of democracy, development and denial of space to terrorism are vital to Bangladesh’s future. However, they are not new to the country.

My contemporaries in Dhaka keenly recall the sacrifices made during their war of liberation in the pursuit of democracy, development, peace and security.

Bangladesh is 38 years old. It is a pivotal country in addition to being a young one. Because in addition to the 3Ds, there is an “O” that drives our work in Bangladesh -- and that is opportunity. Together, I hope we can creatively consider what we can DO inside and outside of government to support and encourage these trends and make the most of these opportunities.

In addition to the 3Ds, President Obama and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have outlined new priorities for our partnership. Together with our other regional and international partners, we will seek to address challenges that include food security, global health, climate change and empowerment of women.

Bangladesh’s contribution to international peacekeeping is another testament to its dedication to being a responsible and engaged member of the international community.  

Secretary Clinton recently commented that “as a country with a strong secular and democratic heritage, a record of respect for women, [and] a Muslim majority population, Bangladesh embodies the promise that President Obama spoke of in Cairo.”  

In keeping with the Cairo objectives, I am pleased to report that we enjoy a relationship with Bangladesh that is based on mutual interest and mutual respect. We will continue to partner with Bangladesh to advance issues of shared concern to our national security and of consequence to global security.  Home to the world’s fourth largest Muslim population and located in a global center of gravity, South Asia, Bangladesh also has a special role to play as a global bridge.

DEMOCRACY
On December 29, 2008, Bangladesh held the freest and fairest elections in the country’s history.

The United States together with other international and non-governmental observers, including the EU and NDI and IRI, closely monitored the election throughout the day and throughout the country.

One of the great success stories of the 2008 election was the creation of an updated photo voters list.  Some 80 million voters, half the population of Bangladesh, were registered through a system of demonstrable integrity. The national registration received intense scrutiny and repeated cross-checking.

It is important that this list now be maintained and safeguarded to ensure that this trend becomes routine.

All of the observers, and indeed most of the population of Bangladesh, applauded the work of the Election Commission in overseeing the December elections.

In short, the ruling Awami League government, headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, operates on the basis of a strong electoral mandate.  Bangladesh today is a secular, pluralistic and religiously diverse nation that at its best pays tribute to the millions who struggled for its independence.

DEVELOPMENT
The ongoing aspirations of the Bangladeshi people are directly tied to social and economic development.

We all recognize that education changes lives. Capacity building in education is vital to Bangladesh, where 33 percent of the population is under the age of fourteen.  The Prime Minister’s commitment to madrassa reform is especially groundbreaking and we salute her initiative as a model for the region.

The government’s plans to develop a national curriculum will better prepare young Bangladeshis to compete in the global economy and serve as global citizens.

In terms of economic development, inflation has remained low, with year-on-year inflation at two percent in June. Though this is due largely to low inflation globally, keeping prices under control is a top priority for the government.

Exports have continued to grow, despite the global economic crisis, from $14.1 billion in FY 08 to $15.5 billion in FY 09, a ten percent increase.

The United States remains the single largest export market for Bangladesh’s ready-made garments. Garment export to the United States grew by 26 percent in the last year and Bangladesh’s prêt-a-porter industry remains globally competitive.

Remittances to Bangladesh continue to set records. In the year ending June 30, they totaled almost $10 billion. More than $1 billion of those remittances came from the United States, the second largest single country of origin for remittances to Bangladesh after Saudi Arabia. This large scale export of human capital links Bangladesh inextricably to the international community and the global economy.

The Awami League government has pledged to tackle Bangladesh’s most pressing problems, including power and energy, and it has welcomed foreign investment.

As its economy grows, Dhaka sees itself as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia sitting almost exactly between Bangkok and New Delhi. We encourage this role and the responsibilities that accompany it.

The new government has placed a priority in building relations with its neighbors, especially India. We strongly support the government’s efforts. Better Bangladesh-India relations are good for Bangladesh, good for India and good for South Asia.

DENIAL OF SPACE TO TERRORISM
One of the top foreign policy goals delineated by President Obama is denial of space to extremists.

Specifically, the U.S. goal is to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and affiliated extremist groups and to eliminate their safe havens.

The government that came into power in Bangladesh in January shares this mission. The Prime Minister has publicly committed her government to working with neighbors in the region, and close partners like the United States to enhance security and deny space to violent extremists.  

The Government of Bangladesh endeavors to neutralize violent extremist groups that have taken root in the country and which in the past sought to exploit weak governance.

I note the arrests in Bangladesh over the past eight months of individuals suspected of planning attacks both inside and outside Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a key partner for the U.S. in our counter-terrorism efforts and there is political will on both sides to address the issue and deepen bilateral and regional cooperation.

Bangladesh and the United States recently co-hosted a conference in Dhaka that brought together five countries from the region to discuss common problems and concerns. 
           
Beyond physical borders, the Government of Bangladesh works to deny space to extremists within its financial borders. An encouraging trend is the passage of legislation to combat money laundering.

Earlier this year the Government of Bangladesh passed new legislation to combat terrorist finance. While the laws are not perfect, they are a step in the right direction.

Bangladesh’s regional and international partners, and its people, now rightfully expect the Ministry of Finance and the Bangladesh Bank to properly implement these laws.  

CHALLENGES
I started off my remarks talking about the 3Ds. And some of you, before the strong opinions and the strong coffee took effect might have supposed that I was referring to 3D glasses. And now, after hearing the optimism in my remarks you might be wondering if I have opted for another kind of glasses – rose colored glasses.  Let me assure you that my vision is clear.  

The United States recognizes that Bangladesh continues to face daunting challenges. We know that democracy does not stop with the vote tally.

The ruling party and the opposition have not abandoned the legacy of bitter partisanship that has bedeviled Bangladesh in the past.

The U.S. has encouraged the elected government to help the opposition find a meaningful role in government. We have also called upon the opposition to contribute to rather than stymie democracy.

Our government sincerely hopes that the BNP will rejoin Parliament and take up the role that constructive opposition should play in a healthy and functioning democracy.

Through USAID and international partners we encourage good governance and decentralization of power and resources.

And we fully support a vibrant civil society and engagement with leaders from Bangladesh’s pluralistic community including religious leaders.

The government recognizes that Bangladesh has been slow to act in some areas, including development. In remarks in New York, Foreign Minister Moni outlined the Awami League’s Vision 2021 “to ensure a level of socioeconomic development that would elevate Bangladesh to a middle-income country by 2021…” The United States supports this admirable goal.

To reach this mark, we encourage the government to allow market forces to work properly. Rather than targeting certain sectors for benefits or attempting to direct interest rates or investment, we hope the government will open up the trade and regulatory system.

This will allow entrepreneurs to seek the best opportunities and bang for their American buck and Bangladeshi taka.

We encourage the government to move more quickly on outstanding power and energy projects.

Finally, we hope that Bangladesh will cultivate a professional and empowered civil society.

Despite their best intentions, local police on the ground in Bangladesh remain ill-equipped, underpaid and disenfranchised.

Bangladesh’s counter-terrorism efforts are forceful and effective but they should also operate in accordance with international standards of human rights. There is widespread international concern for the continued occurrence of extrajudicial killings during law enforcement operations. There has been progress in improving accountability, but more needs to be done.  

Meanwhile, the government’s new terrorism finance and money laundering laws should be vigilantly upheld and enforced. There was some regression on this important initiative in the inclusion of an amnesty clause for “black money” within the legislation. In order to be effective, laws should be consistent, fair and ethical.

This last point touches on an issue that long predates the current government and that is corruption. Bangladesh rates near the bottom of Transparency International’s corruption rating [On the 2008 Global Corruption Perception Index, Bangladesh tied with Kenya, Russia and Syria at #147 out of 180. The U.S. measured at #18. India #85].  

Corruption stymies democratic development; discourages domestic and foreign investment; and could potentially derail the Government of Bangladesh’s ambitious agenda for the next three years and beyond.

While corruption is endemic, it is a curable disease. The Prime Minister herself has expressed concern regarding illegal activity and corruption by some ruling party cadres and has taken some action towards greater transparency and accountability.

In short, it appears that the most common complaint voiced by Bangladeshis has reached the Prime Minister’s inbox. She understands the confidence expressed in the electoral mandate and she should make good on that expression of confidence.

CONCLUSION
Last December, I visited Capitol Hill to testify before the Commission on International Religious Freedom. I recall the clack of dropping jaws when I commented that the economy in Bangladesh had grown over five percent a year each and every year since 1991.

At the same time, sophisticated Americans with considerable overseas experience arrive in Dhaka only to be overwhelmed by the crowds and the poverty.

What’s the truth? It’s both.
What’s the trend? It’s positive.

Statistically and anecdotally, Bangladeshis are the most optimistic people earth. In the coastal town of Chittagong, I asked an older woman working in a garment factory whether she was better off than her parents – and whether her children would be better off than her. She looked at me like I was an absolute idiot, and replied, “Of course.” This is optimism but it is also truth.

People in Bangladesh have seen real progress and they expect to see more. It is now up to the elected government and an engaged opposition to live up to those expectations.

I mentioned that Bangladesh is 38 years old. If we think in terms of human age, the third generation of Bangladeshis is being born. Their country is in transition.

There are positive trends, clear opportunities and equally visible pitfalls. The coming years will determine whether the Government of Bangladesh has the will and the ability to make good on its mandate. That, in turn, will determine whether this current government is re-elected or power passes once again to the current position. More fundamentally, I am confident that the people of Bangladesh, all 160 million of them, will “of course” continue to expect – and make – progress in their own lives and that of their nation.

Thank you and I look forward to our discussion.