More than 300 people died in violent protests in Bangladesh over a dispute over job quotas.
Washington:
The United States has rejected allegations of government involvement in the Bangladesh crisis, including protests in the country that have led to the deaths of hundreds of people.
Refuting all reports and rumors, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said in a press briefing on Monday (local time): “So we have had no involvement. Any report or rumor that the government of the United States was involved in these events is simply, simply untrue.
Jean Pierre further stated that the people of Bangladesh should determine the future of the government of Bangladesh.
“This is a choice of the people of Bangladesh. We believe that the people of Bangladesh should determine the future of the government of Bangladesh, and that is where we are. Any allegations, we will certainly continue to say, and what I have said here is simply false,” said Jean Pierre.
Recently, in an interview with ANI, Michael Kugelman, a US-based foreign policy expert and director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, refuted allegations of foreign interference behind the mass uprising that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, stating I had not seen any “plausible evidence” to support these claims.
He noted that the Hasina government’s harsh crackdown on protesters has intensified the movement. “My view has been very simple. I see this as a crisis that was driven by purely internal factors, by students who were dissatisfied with a specific issue, with job quotas that they didn’t like and who were worried about the government. Sheikh Hasina the government cracked down hard on the students and that turned the movement into something much bigger. And that was simply driven by internal factors,” Kugelman said.
Kugelman rejected accusations by Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy who alleged foreign interference behind the protests, saying the unrest was motivated by “internal factors”.
“Now, you know, when there is a conspiracy theory that is rooted in issues of foreign influence, you cannot refute that type of claim. to provide a plausible explanation as to how this could be true, I have yet to hear this from Sheikh Hasina’s son, from anyone,” he added.
Meanwhile, speaking about the protests outside the White House against the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, White House press secretary Jean Pierre said the US will continue to monitor the situation.
Jean Pierre said: “We will certainly continue to monitor the situation. I have nothing more to say or add beyond that.”
“When it comes to any kind of human rights issue here, the President has been very consistent in speaking loud and clear in public as well as in private and will continue to do so. right now,” she added.
Bangladesh is experiencing a fluid political situation, with Sheikh Hasina resigning as Prime Minister on August 5 amid growing protests. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to the quota system for public positions, evolved into anti-government demonstrations.
A large number of people protested in front of the White House in Washington on Friday last week against alleged violence against minority Hindus and others in Bangladesh since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Protesters carried American and Bangladeshi flags and held signs demanding that Bangladesh’s minorities be “saved”. They chanted slogans “We want justice” and called for peace amid the recent rise in violence.
The crowd, which included activists from several human rights organizations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora and Indian-American Hindu allies, came from Washington, Maryland, Virginia and New York.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed 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 as he assumes his new responsibilities. We look forward to a speedy return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our people for peace, security and development,” said Prime Minister Modi in a post on X.
Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus fled to neighboring India to escape the violence. Hindus, who make up about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people, have traditionally supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which faced backlash after violent clashes between anti-quota protesters and security forces last month.
Several US leaders, including Republican Congressman Pat Fallon and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, have also spoken out against the alleged violence in Bangladesh.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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