… and 'WikiLeaked' Bangladesh!
Photo: greenleft.org.au
If the WWIII, as it has already been predicted, would befall for the paucity of 'potable water', then it may be considered as possible that the WWIV would take place for acquiring 'information'. This may seem imminent eventually as concealed and classified 'facts' unveiled by the WikiLeaks have become a matter of headache for the big powers along with the Superpower. Julian Assange, the internet's freedom fighter's endeavor to shift regime behavior and to reveal 'unjust systems' has unleashed diplomatic cables consist of embarrassing 'confidentials' that did concern the related regimes and the entire diplomatic world. In conjunction with this, the exposé includes the 'tale of woe' for Bangladesh as well, and disclosed secrets that would question the statecraft, political posture, intelligence, security issues, human rights situation, and predominantly, the sovereignty of the country. As WikiLeaks published 'secrets' on Bangladesh, albeit claimed 'cynical' by some, these leaked diplomatic cables delineated that they are not that much far from the truth in some points of facts or just confirmed the occurrences. At the outset, the allegations in the leaks on RAB of being favored as a counter-terrorism partner and 'Bangladeshi FBI' by the governments of the US and the UK point towards the security and human rights issues of Bangladesh. RAB has now been a concern to the human rights organizations for its extra-judicial killings and criticised as the British trained 'accredited government death squad'. It has also been published in the cables that DGFI was responsible for promoting extremists (Huji-BD) and for bringing them into the mainstream politics through a new political party (IDP) that certainly shows the decadence in the intelligence system. Also, cable derived from the US mission in New Delhi showed that the preceding Caretaker Government had taken 'Minus-2 Theory' to push the two major leaders out of politics with the instigation of different foreign embassies which phased in 'Bangladesh at Crossroads' and the whole political posture under serious question mark concerning the democratic system of the country. Then again, cables revealed that British officials along with the US and development agencies like DFID and USAid are working on promoting a curriculum reform of Madrassas in Bangladesh to prevent the 'radicalization of Muslim youth', which indicates that the government's education policies are not much free from foreign pressures whatsoever. Moreover, cables posted by WikiLeaks on the US diplomats' pressure on the government for reinstating Phulbari coal mine which was closed after violent protests and also for engaging Asia Energy again to the project with the prescribed 'open-pit mining', and on newer leaks, for insisting on to hire US-based Conoco Philips and Chevron for working on the gas sector. These clearly depicted the weaknesses in major policy implications in terms of taking the decisions by the government itself. Another leaked diplomatic cable suggests to keep an eye on 'Bangladesh's attempt to gain influence' in different regions via UN peace keeping operations which comprehends the deficiency of the US's confidence in the international position and participation of Bangladesh. Consequently, these contentions and revelations evidently define the 'tale of woe' and defenselessness of the sovereignty along with the governance of the country, which provides no alternative but to merely sit on the fence. The government has to concentrate more on attaining 'self-determination' given that the foreign embassies and big powers have long been the mentors of every government of Bangladesh in terms of formulating national policies and strategies, and also other pertinent issues. Whether the cables are authentic or erroneous, they could be helpful for emancipating from the 'unjust systems' and for getting on the road to reality in this era of 'Right to Information'. In general, it cannot be denied that the leaked incidents coincidentally harmonized the existing concerns with the exposé, likewise in case of Bangladesh too. Not surprisingly, who knows, the reality behind the revelations could be more intense than the labyrinth itself.
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