US Keen to work with Bangladesh to strengthen democratic institutions: diplomat

Megan Boldin, the US Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Dhaka, has emphasised America’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in strengthening its democratic institutions.

Speaking at an election watch party hosted at the American Center in Dhaka on Wednesday, Boldin highlighted the importance of youth engagement in all areas.

She cited Bangladesh’s student-led quota reform protests as an example of young leaders sparking change and promoting democracy, reports bdnews24.com.

Addressing the country's young leaders, she said, "Your work is not over; your work continues, and we want to be your partner in strengthening the democratic institutions of Bangladesh.”

The event, held to observe the results of the 2024 US election, brought together young leaders and notable guests. Alongside live election updates, the gathering featured discussions and light-hearted polls, including a vote on donuts versus cupcakes.

Explaining the event’s purpose, Boldin remarked, "We hope our celebration today will inspire you and encourage you to continue as an active participant in your democracy. We hope your peers will join you as well. In both the United States and Bangladesh, our future is in the hands of young leaders like you."

Boldin noted that no democracy is 'perfect'. Instead, the journey towards improvement is ongoing and essential.

"The US election process is dynamic, and like every democracy, we also encounter challenges. Challenges like disinformation and misinformation. And in a democracy, every voter will experience joy and disappointment -- we can imagine the thrill when the candidate you voted for wins, and the worry when the candidate you supported loses," she said.

"But here's the crucial point: democracy is about more than just voting every few years. It's about being engaged in our communities and advocating for change. Sometimes, it's as easy as starting a conversation about your concern with elected officials. We all have a role to play.”

RELEVANCE OF US ELECTIONS FOR BANGLADESH

Debapriya Bhattacharya, the head of the committee responsible for publishing a white paper on Bangladesh’s economy, and Badiul Alam Majumder, chief of the Election Reform Commission, also attended the event.

Bhattacharya, an honorary fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), told reporters that the outcome of the US election holds significance for everyone in Bangladesh, as the relationship between the two nations doesn’t depend on one party alone.

“There are many factors, including trade, strategy, and geopolitics. A change in the U.S. presidency doesn’t immediately change these. So, we don’t have major concerns regarding the election outcome,” he said.

“Given the complexities of the current global situation, the US election results are expected to have far-reaching impacts. Since Bangladesh has faced its own challenges in voting rights, we can draw lessons from other countries' election experiences.”

Bhattacharya also spoke about the importance of ensuring a smooth and competitive electoral environment, observing the actions of those who manage elections, and understanding how citizens respond to the results.

With Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump looking likely to return to the White House, Badiul Alam Majumder said he does not expect any adverse impact on Bangladesh-US relations from the US election results.

“The United States has shown the effectiveness of democratic systems for over 250 years. Bangladesh, a relatively new state, is still experimenting with its democratic process,” he said.

“Our system differs from theirs. Unfortunately, our parliamentary system hasn’t been stable. We’ve faced numerous ups and downs.”

Despite these differences, Majumder acknowledged that the US is currently navigating its own challenges, marked by severe divisions.

Addressing a statement by Trump on violence against Bangladesh’s minority communities, Majumder said, “Trump’s tweet was likely an attempt to attract votes from the Indian community. I’m confident Trump doesn’t even know where Bangladesh is, so I don’t believe this will have any adverse impact.”