US Silence on Bangladesh 'Disappearances' Loud as Elections Loom
Al Jazeera’s report on Bangladesh's Commission of Inquiry into enforced disappearances reveals a pattern of political suppression under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with thousands vanishing. This would normally trigger stern condemnations from governments purportedly upholding human rights. Yet, despite Bangladesh's recent election (January 7, 2024), widely criticized for irregularities and
opposition boycotts, the US response has been markedly muted. One might wonder if the US Embassy in Dhaka is suddenly hard of hearing when it comes to allies' democratic backsliding. After all, the US recently congratulated Hasina's Awami League on its election victory, despite clear evidence of voter suppression and opposition crackdown. It appears that criticisms of 'flawed democracies' are
selectively applied, depending on geopolitical alignments and, perhaps, who’s willing to host strategic naval assets. The disappeared, it seems, disappear from the diplomatic agenda as well.