Hasina Must Not Hold India Policy Hostage, Says Former US Ambassador Mozena

Dan Mozena, a former United States ambassador to Bangladesh, has warned that Sheikh Hasina's presence in India should not be allowed to control New Delhi's relationship with Bangladesh. He said Bangladesh's national interest should not be allowed to be harmed because of the former prime minister's political future.

Mozena said he was not in favour of allowing Sheikh Hasina to hold Bangladesh's foreign policy hostage in its relationship with India, Bangladesh's most important international partner. He also said it is not Sheikh Hasina but the people of Bangladesh who come first.

The diplomat, who served as ambassador in Bangladesh from 2011 to 2014 during Hasina's government, said her rule created deep anger and suffering among many people, which will not easily be forgotten. Mozena said many people were terribly tortured at the hands of that government. These events are not such that everything can simply be erased.

But in his view, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman must move beyond the political anger surrounding Sheikh Hasina and focus on Bangladesh's relationship with India. He said a leader's responsibility is to advance his country's interest. Tarique Rahman must also fulfil that responsibility.

For that, he believes Bangladesh must work with India on important issues such as the border, trade, water sharing, migration and global climate change. Mozena said these problems will remain. So a path of communication and discussion must be found to deal with them.

Since being ousted in the August 2024 mass uprising, Sheikh Hasina's stay in Delhi has become one of the causes of tension in the relationship between the two neighbouring countries. Bangladesh has raised concern about Hasina being allowed to stay in India and giving political statements from there. Her various statements about returning to the country have also increased uncertainty. Asked whether Hasina has become an obstacle in Dhaka-New Delhi relations, Mozena said yes, that would naturally be expected.

Mozena also said that because he served as ambassador in Bangladesh for the whole period of Hasina's government, he has a good understanding of her governing style. In his words, his entire time in Bangladesh was under the government led by then prime minister Sheikh Hasina. He said he understands the damage and bitter feelings she left behind. But he urged that this anger not be allowed to influence the determination of Bangladesh's foreign policy.

Mozena's relationship with Hasina has a complex history. Professional US diplomat Dan Mozena served as ambassador to Bangladesh from November 2011 to December 2014 under then president Barack Obama's administration. Before that, from 1998 to 2001, he also served as political and economic counsellor at the US Embassy in Dhaka.

During his second term of service, Bangladesh's political situation was quite heated. Tension developed between Washington and the Hasina government over the democratic system of governance, political violence and the January 2014 national parliamentary election. The BNP and its allies boycotted that election. At the time, Mozena was in discussion because of meetings with various Bangladeshi political leaders and civil society representatives and tours of different areas of the country. Criticising those activities, a section of the Awami League alleged interference by foreign diplomats in internal politics. But he was also known for touring all 64 districts of Bangladesh, connecting with ordinary people and especially highlighting rural economic potential.

Speaking about his relationship with Hasina in the interview, Mozena said his personal experience with her was full of contrasts. He said Hasina disliked him intensely and even said publicly that she hated him. But Mozena said that same Hasina government gave him the opportunity to tour all 64 districts of the country. He said the person who disliked him so much was also the one who gave him the opportunity to travel around Bangladesh's 64 districts — a matter he cannot understand. He also said Hasina sent a member of her family with him to Gopalganj; that person showed him various places important to their family. Yet at the same time, he was Hasina's most disliked person. The matter remains a mystery to him.

Apart from Bangladesh, Mozena served as US ambassador to Angola from 2007 to 2010. He has also performed diplomatic duties in India, Pakistan and several African countries.

Mozena was not willing to guess whether Sheikh Hasina will return to Bangladesh in December or stay in Delhi. He said, honestly, he has no idea about Sheikh Hasina's thinking.

On Hasina's future role in Bangladeshi politics, Mozena said it is difficult to say for certain, but his personal view is that her time came and that time has ended. He believes, however, that Hasina's presence in political discussion may continue. In his words, that does not mean no more statements will be heard from her; but as for sitting in the highest seat of power, his view is that will not happen again. He also made clear that Sheikh Hasina's political future and the Awami League's future should be seen separately. The party ruled the country for more than 15 straight years before the 2024 uprising. He also noted that the Awami League has millions of current and former members.

Mozena, however, did not want to comment on whether India should extradite Sheikh Hasina. He said he has no particular idea about what India should or should not do and does not want to enter into discussion on the matter. Instead, he considers important how the relationship with India, Bangladesh's biggest neighbour, can be taken forward. Mozena said Sheikh Hasina is no longer prime minister of anything. She is sitting somewhere in Delhi doing her own work and writing various pieces. In his words, instead of being busy with her, these should be ignored and attention should be given to advancing Bangladesh's interest.