Visiting former US diplomat Jon F. Danilowicz on Saturday asserted that the credit for the July-August uprising, which led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, solely belongs to the people of Bangladesh, as the movement was entirely homegrown.
"It [the uprising] was something that was born in Bangladesh. It rose up in Bangladesh, and it came to fruition in Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh, and the people of Bangladesh alone, deserve credit for the end of the previous dictatorship and for this fourth opportunity to build a democracy," he said.
Danilowicz was addressing a discussion titled "A New Dawn in Dhaka: Navigating the Dynamics of Bangladesh-US Relations after the Mass Uprising", organized by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS) at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium.
Former US ambassador to Bangladesh William B. Milam also participated in the discussion, moderated by CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman.
Diplomats from various foreign missions in Bangladesh, politicians, academics, business leaders, representatives from international development organizations, civil society members, journalists and university students joined the event.
When asked about the participation of the Awami League in the next election, Danilowicz said the decision rests solely with the people of Bangladesh.
"This is a question that the people of Bangladesh will have to answer. I admit, for me, it is the toughest question Bangladesh faces now," he said.
On the issue of accountability, he stated that election participation is not the only measure of accountability. "The International Crimes Tribunal process and the legal mechanism for holding individuals accountable are also critically important," he noted.
Danilowicz acknowledged past shortcomings in US foreign policy, particularly during Bangladesh's One-Eleven political crisis in 2007-08, stating that the US government at the time did not sufficiently focus on institutional reforms.
However, he noted that the current interim government in Bangladesh is learning from past mistakes with public support.
Ambassador William B. Milam and Danilowicz discussed the US commitment to democracy in Bangladesh, emphasizing the importance of international partnerships and policy approaches in supporting the country's democratic development.
Milam highlighted efforts to raise awareness in the US about Bangladesh's democratic process.
He said that they had formed a small organization to inform the American public about Bangladesh's democratic trajectory and over the past five years, they have secured funding and continued to support this initiative.
Expressing his delight at visiting Bangladesh again, Milam noted that he had been unable to travel to the country for the past decade due to visa restrictions.
Danilowicz underscored the importance of democratic stability, highlighting that US policy toward Bangladesh has remained consistent since 1971.
He identified the lack of accountability within Bangladesh's ruling parties as one of the most significant challenges in the country's political landscape.
"A strong civil-military relationship is crucial for democracy to flourish. Authoritarian rule is never conducive to democratic governance," he stated.
He further remarked that Bangladesh is currently facing an 'information warfare' challenge and that the US government is actively working to counter media-driven misinformation.
He dismissed President Donald Trump's statement regarding US funding for specific individuals in Bangladesh as misleading attempt propagated by groups attempting to destabilize bilateral relations.
Addressing concern about US military activities on Saint Martin's Island by the ousted Sheikh Hasina, Danilowicz labeled such claims as baseless rumors spread with malicious intent.
He also accused the former Awami League government of spreading misinformation against foreign countries to cover up its corruption and irregularities.
Danilowicz stressed that the US and European Union should align their funding policies with Bangladesh's ongoing reforms.
He also emphasized the need for an active civil society and suggested that Bangladesh should recover assets siphoned off abroad over the past 17 years and utilize them for governance reforms.
The discussion also touched upon the significant role of Bangladeshi expatriates in promoting accountability through institutional and financial support.
Both the speakers underscored the vital role of media in democracy. "The influence of the media cannot be ignored, and citizen journalism should be encouraged to strengthen democratic discourse," Danilowicz observed.
During the question and answer session, Ambassador Milam and Danilowicz responded to questions from students, politicians, and civil society representatives, further elaborating on Bangladesh-US relations and the country's democratic future.
