Dhaka refutes Indian TV report
The Bangladesh government on Saturday sent a rejoinder to an Indian television channel that had carried a report claiming that Washington was in talks with Dhaka to secure Chittagong port to dock part of its Seventh Fleet.
"The government wishes to state in unequivocal terms that there has been no such discussion at any level between Bangladesh and the USA, including during the recent visit of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton," the rejoinder said.
The rejoinder was sent to Times Now, the 24-hour English news channel, which ran a report on May 31 titled "US eyes Bangladesh", in which it claimed that the Americans wanted to use the port to counter growing Chinese influence in the region.
"America ... wants to park its Seventh Fleet in the country ... for its strategic interests," the report had said.
"Worried by increasing presence of Chinese naval bases in the South China Sea, America now eyes a counter strategy as it wants an overall presence in Asia -- right from Japan to its Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean," it said.
The report suggested that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent visit to Bangladesh on May 5-6 was "much more than just a friendly gesture" and that she had discussed military co-operation with Bangladeshi officials.
The Bangladesh government rejected such claims saying, "Both sides are committed to such institutional dialogue in furthering substantive co-operation and consultation."
The report had further said the Americans were increasingly worried over the string of pearls of Chinese bases across the South China Sea and their naval might spreading all across Asia – putting America behind.
However, spokesperson for the US Department of State Victoria Nuland was quoted by The Times of India, a newspaper from the same Times Group, as saying that during the Bangladesh visit of Clinton, no such talks took place.
But Priscilla Huff, Washington Correspondent of Times Now, said: "The US State Department is confirming the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did discuss a future home for the Seventh Fleet when she was in Bangladesh."
The Seventh Fleet currently has homes in Japan, Guam and Singapore, she added.
"The Bangladeshi Government is remaining extremely tightlipped over the recent developments - as they have internally decided to deny it on record - fearing backlash from their own hardliners," said the Times Now report.
But Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India told Time Now that he was "not aware of any such requests", when he was asked by a TV reporter whether the US had asked to allow Chittagong port to be used as their naval base and whether Bangladesh would allow it.
"Bangladesh is not willing to comment on record even offering explanation to deny the developments. This Clinton visit is a more strategic one than just a friendly one - the Indian establishment caught unawares - as this base could cast a shadow on India's own strategic interests," the report concluded.
Meanwhile, at the annual security forum in Singapore, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Saturday also refuted the Time Now report that claimed the shift in the US focus to the Asia-Pacific was part of an American effort to contain China's emergence as a global power.
"I reject that view entirely. Our effort to renew and intensify our involvement in Asia is fully compatible with the development and growth of China," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
He also said the US would keep six aircraft carriers in the Asia-Pacific and move a majority of its other warships to the region in the coming years.
Dhaka refutes Indian TV report | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com
Source:
http://www.defence.pk/forums/bangla...a-refutes-indian-tv-report.html#ixzz1wflQLhGm
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About the bold part, sound not good. What does she mean in future? That means there is a probability.
allah shubuddhi jeno dei bangladesher sorkar gulor jate eta na hote pare....Insh Allah