Experts see Kerry's visit shift in US attitude towards Hasina govt

Experts and diplomats observed that the US Secretary of State John Kerry's  Dhaka visit is an endorsement of US government's shifting mindset over January 5 National Election and approval of present government's all action against terrorism and extremism.
Kerry remembered the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and while visiting Bangabandha Memorial Museum he  wrote in the visitor's book that the August 15th tragedy was an end of a "brilliant and courageous" leader of people of Bangladesh.
"But today Bangladesh is growing with the vision of Bangabandhu and under the strong leadership of his daughter," he wrote on Monday. "The United States is proud to be a friend and strong fellow traveller in the fulfilment of his vision. We look forward to growing and working together for peace and prosperity," he wrote.
"This was a maiden official visit of any high officials" to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum as it was on the scheduled programme of the former Foreign Secretary Hilary Clinton's visit but it did not happen ... but now Kerry paid respect to the Bangladesh's founding father," former diplomat Dr. Waliur Rahman told the Daily Observer on Tuesday.
He said, Kerry also said that "We (US) look forward to or growing and working together for peace and prosperity," which has been an endorsement of the legal validity of the present government, he said.
However, the US embassy in Dhaka has issued a factsheet on Dhaka-Washington relations just before Secretary of State John Kerry's visit on Aug 29.
"The United States and Bangladesh share a long history of cooperation.  Our strong bilateral relationship is bolstered by our shared efforts to confront global challenges such as violent extremism, climate change, health, and food security.
While it continues to face many challenges, Bangladesh has achieved two decades of extraordinary economic growth and made tremendous strides in reducing poverty and improving maternal and child health.  We are a proud partner in assisting Bangladesh's steady progress toward middle income status.
 We share a vision for a democratic, moderate, and tolerant Bangladesh that serves as a bridge for trade and commerce between South and Southeast Asia and an anchor for stability and prosperity in the Bay of Bengal region.  We believe the existence of viable political parties and ensuring freedom of media and speech are essential for Bangladesh to fulfil its true potential as a vibrant, secure democracy. Earlier on Wednesday, the US Department of State said Kerry's travel to Dhaka was to highlight the "longstanding and broad based US-Bangladesh relationship".
The visit took place just before the US presidential election in November amid perception that the US is not happy with the Hasina government following the last parliamentary elections that Washington did not find 'credible' since the BNP-led opposition boycotted the vote.
Washington had issued travel warnings for Bangladesh and authorised a 'voluntary departure' of family members of US embassy diplomats and staff from Dhaka but before leaving Dhaka the Secretary said Bangladesh will see more US engagements in countering terrorism and violent extremism as a result of his visit.
Former diplomat Humayun Kabir said, "Bangladesh has gained from this visit. The environment was very warm from both sides, security issues dominated the talks but there was something what we called "smoke".  Yes, Bangladesh successfully created the smoke for the future USA-BD relationship," he added.