Bangladesh is in an area of globe vital to US interests

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US Ambassador-designate to Bangladesh James Moriarty has said Washington wants that Bangladesh's caretaker government move as quickly as possible to take additional steps to restore civic freedom and democracy, reports UNB.
Appearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on February 6 for confirmation of his ambassadorial job, he said the United States has also called upon the caretaker government to adhere to the electoral roadmap to hold national elections by the end of 2008.
Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) who chaired the hearing asked a string of queries about the general election, role of the army, human-right situation, development, "Islamic terrorists" and impact of climate change in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Humayun Kabir was present at the Senate hearing--a prerequisite for appointment of an American ambassador.
In his introductory remarks Senator Kerry said this is a trying and troubling time for Bangladesh, now ruled by 'military' for over a year.
"We have a very strong interest in maintaining strong relations with Bangladesh, but we also hope that Bangladesh is going to continue as a moderating voice in the Islamic world," he said in his introductory remarks.
Kerry said, "We also can't lose fact that we need to restore full civil and political rights to all the citizens of Bangladesh."
The Senator mentioned that in May last year, he wrote a letter with Senators Biden, Lugar and others urging Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed to immediately lift emergency rule and announce a timeline for free and fair elections.
He said although emergency rule is still in place, the government has announced elections by the end of 2008; it's very important these be transparent and held as scheduled.
Kerry also noted that carry out reforms to end Bangladesh's notorious corruption is also a challenge and vital to restoring popular confidence in government.
In his deposition, Moriarty said Bangladesh is a country in transition, in an area of the globe vital to US interests. In
Bangladesh, he said, US interests revolve around three, inter-twined "d's": democracy, development, and denial of space to terrorism.
The seventh-most populous country in the world, Bangladesh is overwhelmingly Muslim and has in the recent past been grindingly poor. "If, under such conditions, it succeeds in building a tolerant, prosperous democracy, it will serve as a shining beacon for much of the world," he told the committee of lawmakers. Moriarty said, "If it fails in these tasks, it could become a nation of ungoverned space and a potential safe haven and crossroads for international terrorism."
He appreciated that, after assuming office, the incumbent caretaker government embarked upon an ambitious agenda to rid the country of endemic corruption, reform institutions necessary for a sustainable democracy, and hold free, fair and transparent elections.