US vs China Tussle for Control over Bangladesh Influenced Hasina's Exit, Intel Sources Tell News18

Hasina's recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was also unexpectedly short, said sources. (File photo/AP)

Strategic control of Bangladesh was becoming important for both the United States and China, the sources added

The West played a very important and crucial role with domestic Bangladeshi players in the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 on Tuesday, amid a spiralling political crisis in the neighbouring nation.

“They activated all means and created an atmosphere for this fall,” said a source. “Anti-Hasina sentiments, protests, and use of students was all done by these players — Devid Bergman (journalist), Muhammad Yunus from Grameen Bank, and Netra News. But strategic control of Bangladesh was becoming important for both the United States and China and used this way.”

In a recent disclosure, Hasina had alleged a “white American man’s” plot to carve a new “Christian country” out of Bangladesh, Myanmar, and parts of India’s Northeast as well as allow a foreign country to build an airbase in Bangladesh.

Hasina said that Balkanisation was happening and indicated that the Americans wanted a non-Muslim state like East Timor.

She pointed towards the Kuki-Chin province of Myanmar, Chattogram from Bangladesh, and Mizoram from India.

“They wanted Saint Martin’s Island from Bangladesh and Hasina to sign two agreements — GSOMIA and ACSA,” said a source.

The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is a treaty that allows countries to share classified information mainly defence programme and operations. Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) is negotiated on a bilateral basis between the United States and its NATO allies or coalition partners that allow US forces to exchange most common types of support, including food, fuel, transportation, ammunition, and equipment.

“They wanted Bangladesh to come out from China’s BRI project and sign IPEF and India also wanted this,” the source added. “She continued working with China despite her insult recently for not meeting demands and proper red carpet in Beijing and she signed 21 agreements with China.”

According to sources, China initially promised Dhaka a $5 billion loan assistance ahead of Hasina’s visit but then announced about $100 million only.

“Her meeting with President Xi Jinping was also unexpectedly short. Even Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi did not call on the visiting Prime Minister. Tensions reached such an extent that Global Times, the CCP mouthpiece, didn’t cover her visit and meetings,” said the source. “She felt badly insulted and only her party media handle promoted her visit on social media without any images.”

Americans also felt insulted when Hasina purchased four Airbus planes for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the sources added.

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