Rohingya will be the top priority for the US Ambassador designate for Bangladesh Earl Robert Miller.
At a Senate confirmation hearing held on Aug 23, he said, “If confirmed, I pledge to continue to have this issue be the top priority, one of the top priorities of the US mission in Dhaka.”
Flanked by his family members at the hearing, Miller said, “The crisis is not going to abet next year or possible, two or three years. So we are looking at schooling, livelihood training and it is also imperative that any repatriation be fully voluntary, safe and dignified.”
Burma must commit to creating those conditions on the ground in Rakhine state and Myanmar military and security forces must end the violence and adhere to the rule of law, he said in response to a query of a senator.
“Those responsible for ethnic cleansing and other abuses should be held accountable,” said Miller who served in eight countries across five geographic regions over the past three decades.
One of my first trips would be to the camps as soon as I got into Bangladesh to see the ground reality myself, he said.
Praising Bangladesh, he said it is a generous act by opening its border and people open their heart to host over one million Rohingyas for the last two decades.
He, however, opposed the idea of relocating the Rohingyas to an island as it is so isolated that it can become a target for piracy, trafficking and other criminal activities.
The ambassador designate emphasized that the all victims need to know they are not alone or forgetting and when their voices are sniffled, they can borrow ours.
“Their freedom depends on us; quality of our freedom depends on theirs.”
We will continue to work closely with Bangladesh, UN agencies, and our international partners to meet the urgent needs of the Rohingya while continuing to press Burma to create the conditions necessary to allow their safe, voluntary, and dignified return, he said.
Why Bangladesh is important
Terming Bangladesh as a strategically important country, he said we are passing through such a critical time of our bilateral relationship.
“As the world’s eighth-largest country by population and third-largest Muslim-majority nation, Bangladesh is known for its moderate, secular, pluralistic traditions.”
With an annual economic growth rate of roughly six percent each year, Bangladesh aspires to soon become a middle income country and is an increasingly important trading partner and destination for US investment, he said.
It is a vital nation linking South and Southeast Asia and poised to play an even larger role on the regional and world stage, said Miller, who served 24 years as a special agent with the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.
We also see increasing opportunities to expand our trade and commercial relationship as Bangladesh economic growth routinely averages six percent yearly creating opportunities for US firms.
“We are seeing encouraging gains by American companies in Bangladesh’s energy, infrastructure, and ICT sectors among others.“
Indo Pacific and area of cooperation
He said both the countries work closely on a range of issues and hold regular structured dialogues on bilateral and regional issues, security and defense cooperation, as well as trade and investment.
“The United States is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, expanding our partnership with Bangladesh in support of good governance and fundamental rights and liberties, open access to seas and airways, peaceful resolution of territorial and maritime disputes, and free and reciprocal trade.”
We cooperate closely with Bangladesh on counterterrorism, ensuring threats do not grow and threaten to destabilise the region, he added.
National election
The ambassador-designate said: “The upcoming national elections is an opportunity for Bangladesh to reaffirm its commitment to democracy and the rule of law by holding free, fair, credible, and participatory elections that reflect the will of the Bangladeshi people.”
To do so, all parties must be free to participate fully in the political process, he said.
“Ambassador Bernicat has been a superb champion of all voices in the democratic process and, if confirmed, I pledge to follow her admirable example,” he said.
Area of concern
The United States remains concerned about recent trends in democracy and human rights in Bangladesh, he said in the Senate hearing.
“We remain troubled about reports of attacks on vulnerable populations, political violence, and extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by security forces.”
If confirmed, I will work to support efforts to promote accountability and strengthen human rights and democracy in Bangladesh, he added.