I recently discovered that Sound of Silence is not about the assassination of JFK, leading me to naturally wonder how deep the rabbit hole is! And when it comes to JFK assassination, the rabbit hole obviously is very, very deep. Long before social media or even the internet, there was a whole ecosystem of conspiracy theories about who did it — the mob, Castro, FBI, CIA, LBJ…. I am waiting to read the book conclusively proving it was Joe DiMaggio — imagine him saying in a Stalone-Pacino-De Nero voice, ‘Yeah, ‘twas me, the sumbitch had it a-coming, he was smooching Marilyn!’….
I jest, of course.
More serious studies of mid-20th century American history do, however, explore what the consequences of the shots fired in Dallas 60 years ago were, and what might have been. Would JFK have been able to battle racism the way LBJ did? Would he have even won a re-election? Would he have escalated the war in Vietnam?
Ah, Vietnam. Exactly three weeks before JFK was killed, the South Vietnamese army killed the previously American-backed dictator Ngo Dinh Diem in a coup. There is ample documented evidence that the coup was anticipated in — if not explicitely greenlighted from — Washington DC.
Of course, American interest in monsoon Asia in general, and Indochina in particular, well predates JFK. The denouement of Yankee intervention in that peninsula is narrated in many classic movies, TV shows, and books, with Graham Greene foretelling it in 1955!
Well, there is nothing quiet or silent about what the Biden Administration wants to see in Bangladesh — strengthening of democratic institutions, starting with a free and fair election. Unlike the Saigon of mid-20th century, this preference has been articulated vocally, again and again.
Why might they want a democratic Bangladesh?
As with many things, the simplest explanation is often the right one — they want a democratic Bangladesh because the alternative is an erratic dictator leading a Muslim majority country of 170 million people into economic disaster. Who wants that?
A more difficult question to answer is, what might they do to achieve what they want?
I have been asked this question many times in the recent months, by a range of people — from those fighting in the streets for democracy to ultra-rich regime beneficiaries, by way of apolitical and apathetic middle aged Dhaka denizens.
The truth is — I don’t know. I doubt they will send in the Marines and establish democracy at gun point. I don’t know whether there are covert, black op stuff. I don’t know whether there are economic measures being planned in State and Treasury Departments. If anyone else claims that they do — well, they are better informed than I.
But I would argue that we have reached a stage where the direction of Bangladeshi polity will be determined in Dhaka.
The American policies and statements of the past couple of years have had a dramatic impact on Bangladeshi polity. It has put a leash on the uniformed killers. That has allowed the pro-democracy movement to challenge the regime. And yet, the regime is clearly not for turning.
What that means is that, ultimately, this will have to play out in Dhaka. The rich and affluent of the northern suburbs, the civil-military bureaucrats, the opinionmakers and cultural leaders will have to ultimately decide how long they will continue to live under a decrepit dictatorship.
To paraphrase JFK — Ask not what America can do for your country, ask what are you doing for it?
Further reading
খালেদা জিয়া, কর্তৃত্ববাদী সরকার এবং বোধহীন সুশীল সমাজ
বাংলাদেশের রাজনীতির জন্য বিএনপি ও খালেদা জিয়া উভয়েরই বেঁচে থাকা জরুরি।
সাইমুম পারভেজ, 5 Dec 2021
A closer look at the history suggests that such punitive measures amount to war by other means.
Brigitte Granville, 11 Nov 2022
Let the BofA conference debacle spur better standards, pretty please
Tina Fordham, 11 April 2023
Washington Can Give Bangladesh’s Democracy the Kiss of Life
Dhaka has taken on new importance as relations with China freeze.
Ahmede Hussain, 3 Aug 2023
একটি জরিপ, নৈরাশ্য ও তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সরকারের প্রশ্ন
Kamal Ahmed, 9 Aug 2023
Bangladesh is lurching towards repressive one-party rule
The Economist, 24 Aug 2023
U.S. HELPED PAKISTAN GET IMF BAILOUT WITH SECRET ARMS DEAL FOR UKRAINE, LEAKED DOCUMENTS REVEAL
The U.S.-brokered loan let Pakistan’s military postpone elections, deepen a brutal crackdown, and jail former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Ryan Grim, Murtaza Hussain, 17 Sep 2023
বদরুল আলম ও হাছান আদনান, 24 Sep 2023
Bangladesh: Will Sheikh Hasina Capitulate to Demands for a Caretaker Government?
The system of a non-partisan caretaker government was first adopted informally in 1990 and codified in 1996.
SNM Abdi, 12 Nov 2023
2,597 killed in 13 years — data captures the staggering scale of extrajudicial executions, fatal shootings and custodial torture across Bangladesh.
Nazmul Ahasan, 13 Nov 2023
Md Shariful Islam, 21 Nov 2023
Ali Riaz, 22 Nov 2023
I get that you are against the current regime but you cannot tell me with a straight face that America cares about democracy in Bangladesh. Especially given that they continue to support autocratic governments like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.