Amidst an abrupt political turmoil, the role of Donald Lu is emerging as a critical factor in sealing the outcome of events in Bangladesh.
The resignation of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister of Bangladesh marks a significant turning point in South Asian geopolitics. As she fled the country amid protests and sought refuge in India, the stability of Bangladesh and its relationship with India have come into question.
The protest which initially began with the demand to end the reservation for the families of freedom fighters ‘liberation warriors’ of Bangladesh, finally culminated in ‘regime change’ and anti-Hindu riots in India’s eastern neighbour. Amidst all the preliminary observations, the role of infamous ‘regime change’ diplomat Donald Lu must be studied.
Donald Lu: An Enabler of Secessionist Tendencies?
Donald Lu is an American diplomat who currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs since September 2021. Earlier, he was the US Ambassador to Albania and Kyrgyzstan. He has a controversial track record and is notorious for interfering in the political processes of other countries.
He had often expressed concerns about Human Rights issues in India under the tenure of the Modi government as well as several other countries around the world. Taking a step further, he made a sudden visit to India when the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 were in full swing. Interestingly, he visited Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, so far which is a stronghold for Dravidian politics.
Regarding his visit, the US had released a controversial press release claiming that Donald Lu embarked on a visit to Chennai to ‘strengthen bilateral relations with South India’.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly had a secret meeting at the US White House where he met Donald Lu as well as other officials of the Biden administration. Incidentally, during his US trip, the Congress leader made several contentious remarks including seeking ‘foreign intervention’ to restore ‘democracy in India’ as it was a global public good.
‘Political Reforms’: Donald Lu’s Code Word for Regime Change
The ousted Pakistan PM Imran Khan had alleged that he was removed because of ‘foreign interference’ and had mentioned the name of Donald Lu as the facilitator. However, Lu had termed all these allegations as false and rubbished it as a ‘conspiracy theory’.
Furthermore, Donald Lu had also mentioned of ‘political reforms’ in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina’s party ‘Awami League’ had raised the issue of US support to their rival party, BNP and its leader Khaleda Zia. After the election victory, PM Hasina had revealed some shocking news: “If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem,”
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She had also made comments on certain ‘conspiracy’ to carve out a Christian nation out of Bangladesh and Myanmar to suit the military aspirations of another country in South Asia.
Meanwhile, this year, Donald Lu had claimed that Sri Lanka was making a comeback. An unnatural praise, hinting towards his role in Sri Lanka’s political upheaval in July 2022. Financial assistance is being given to Sri Lanka through USAID to fund the Colombo West Terminal Port. The involvement of USAID explains Lu’s strategy to increase South Asia’s dependence on US.
Public Instigation in Albania and Kyrgyzstan
During Donald Lu’s tenure in Albania, he publicly provoked people to overthrow the country’s government. he asked the Albanian youth to put pressure on their government to lead a better life than their parents, adding that otherwise, they should overthrow the government. Additionally, the American Ambassador then toured several cities of the small country and held ‘discussions’ with the youth.
Similarly, when Donald Lu was the US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, political tensions prevailed in that country. He stayed there from 2018 to 2021, and in between his tenure, Kyrgyzstan witnessed a major protest.
Because of these developments, Donald Lu is credited for the unrest in Kyrgyzstan and Albania.
The Way Ahead for India: Geopolitical Strategies Required:
India is maintaining a cautious approach, closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh while adopting a “wait-and-watch” strategy. This involves assessing the developments and their potential impacts on regional stability.
- Engaging with a broader spectrum of Bangladeshi society will be crucial to counteract any negative perceptions of India. India needs to move beyond the 1971 liberation war narrative.
- India should bolster its security measures along the border and in areas with significant Bangladeshi expatriate populations to address potential spillover effects and maintain stability.
- Evaluate the feasibility of an FTA with Bangladesh in light of the new political climate.
- India should work with Gulf partners like the UAE and Saudi Arabia to support Bangladesh’s economic stabilization and counter islamist extremism. This cooperation can help maintain regional stability and prevent Bangladesh from drifting away from its traditional allies.
The nature of the new government, whether it is led by opposition parties or the military will significantly impact India’s strategic interests!
