Washington: The United States has denied any involvement of its administration in the political crisis in Bangladesh, including the protests that resulted in hundreds of deaths in the country.
Refuting all the reports and rumours, the White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean Pierre, said in a media briefing on Monday (local time), “So, we have had no involvement at all. Any reports or rumours that the United States government was involved in these, in these events is simply simply false. That is not true.”
Jean Pierre also added that Bangladeshi people should determine the future of the Bangladeshi government.
“This is a choice for and by the Bangladeshi people. We believe that the Bangladeshi people should determine the future of the Bangladeshi government, and that’s where we stand. Any allegations, certainly, we will continue to say, and what I have said here is simply untrue,” she said.
Also read – UN chief asks Bangladesh to consider Human Rights
Speaking about the demonstrations outside the White House against the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, the press secretary for the White House stated that the US will keep an eye on the situation.
Jean Pierre said, “We are certainly going to continue monitoring the situation. I don’t have anything else to say or to add beyond that.”
“When it comes to any type of human rights issue here, the President has been very consistent in speaking loud and clear in public and also privately and he will continue to do that. But, I don’t have any specific engagement to speak to at this time,” she added.
Political conditions in Bangladesh are unstable since Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister on August 5 in the face of growing demonstrations. The protests, spearheaded mainly by students calling for eliminating a government employment quota, turned into anti-government demonstrations.
On Friday of last week, a sizable crowd demonstrated outside the White House in Washington, D.C., against the alleged violence that has been directed towards minority Hindus and others in Bangladesh following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The demand that minorities in Bangladesh be “saved” was carried by protestors holding posters and American and Bangladeshi flags. In the midst of the current spike in violence, they chanted, “We want justice,” and called for peace.
The groups from Washington, Maryland, Virginia, and New York comprised activists from several human rights organisations, people from the Bangladeshi diaspora, and Indian-American Hindu sympathisers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for the “safety and protection” of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh in a message on X on Thursday.
“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Thousands of Hindus from Bangladesh have been escaping the violence by travelling to the neighbouring India. Hindus, who account for 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million inhabitants, have long backed Hasina’s Awami League party, which has come under fire after anti-quota demonstrators and security forces engaged in violent altercations last month.
A number of US politicians have also denounced the purported violence in Bangladesh, including Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pat Fallon, both Republicans.
For more updates Subscribe to Media Eye News
–IANS
