US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena. File photoUS
Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena on Monday said Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists living here are all Bengalees.
The Ambassador said everyone needs to work together to build Sonar Bangla.
He described it nice that the people irrespective of caste, creed and religion are living here together peacefully. He, however, said the bomb attack on Gopalganj Baniarchar Catholic Church on June 3, 2001 was an undesirable incident. On that day, 10 people were killed and many others injured.
“I have come here to pay my respect to those who died in the bomb attack,” Mozena said.
The US Ambassador was speaking as the chief guest at an opinion-sharing meeting at Baniarchar Catholic Church auditorium in Muksudpur upazila in Gopalganj.
The meeting was presided over by Father of the church Mrittunjay Dafadar. Among others, ambassador Mozena’s spouse Mrs Grace Mozena, USAID official Cargon Knight Win, local Christian community leader Adhir Saha, Rakim Bairagi and Jakob Boiddyo, spoke on the occasion.
On his arrival here, Mozena was received by Mrittunjoy Dafadar. The US envoy spent about two hours in the church.
Later, the ambassador went to the graveyard where the victims of the bomb incident were buried. He paid tributes to them and observed one minute silence. Mozena took part in a prayer for the peace of their souls.
After paying tribute, the US ambassador talked to the victim’s family members.
Mozena attended a ceremony of the Christian community in Baniarchar area. The children of the Christian community joined a cultural programme.
Source: Prothom Alo
Not all Bangladeshis are Bengalees. The Chakmas live in Bangladesh don’t consider thenselves as Bengalees. Then there are Bengalees living in India (West Bengal) who are not Bangladeshis.
Mr. Mozena’s recent statements and activitie worry me a lot. For no rhyme or reason, he suddenly visited the mazar of Sk. Mujib and paid tributes.
If newspaper reportings are correct and contrary to previous position taken on this issue, a visiting American jurist has now endorsed Bangladesh War Crime Tribunal as credible; and now, Mozena’s statement that “all communities living in Bangladesh are Bengalis” echoes a position that Awami League takes and as indicated by Mr. Panni above, this position is completely wrong and callous. Bangladesh has many ethnic communities that are not Bangalees.
Do these shifts by the US diplomat signal a shift in US’ position on AL government?. Has there been an underhand deal made somewhere, through a third party?
Indeed, AL government’s subdued response to recent Israeli carnage in Gaza makes one wonder?