Why the recording mattered and its verification

A recent Washington Post report has triggered intense debate across Bangladesh and the region, suggesting the United States wants a greater say in Bangladesh’s political future. The audio was first procured and investigated by Bangladeshi journalist Zulkarnain Saer, who deemed it of critical importance to public interest. Since then, he has been praised for exposing backroom diplomacy and criticized by former U.S. diplomats who question his interpretation. He speaks to ThePrint on why he went public with it, why the U.S. is reaching out to Jamaat, and whether Bangladesh’s political reality is fundamentally shifting.