‘Simply untrue’: US government as it refutes interference allegations in Bangladesh

At a press briefing on Monday (local time), White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre denied all reports and rumors, saying: “We have had no involvement. Any report or rumor that the U.S. government was involved in these events is simply false. It is not true.”

Jean Pierre further stated that the people of Bangladesh should determine the future of the Bangladesh government.

“This is a decision of the people of Bangladesh. We believe that the people of Bangladesh should determine the future of the government of Bangladesh and that is our position. We will continue to make any accusations 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 Sheikh HasinaBush’s impeachment, stating that he had seen no “plausible evidence” to support these claims.

He noted that the Hasina government’s harsh crackdown on protesters had intensified the movement. “My view is very simple. I see this as a crisis driven by purely internal factors, by students who were not happy about a particular issue, by work quotas they did not like and who were worried about the government. Sheikh Hasina’s government cracked down very harshly on students and that turned the movement into something much bigger. And this was driven purely by internal factors,” Kugelman said. Kugelman dismissed allegations by Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy who claimed there was foreign interference behind the protests, saying the unrest was driven by “internal factors”. “Now, you know, when there is a conspiracy theory that is rooted in issues of foreign influence, you cannot disprove such allegations. And at the same time, you cannot prove them conclusively. I think the onus is on you to provide a plausible explanation of how it can be true. I have not heard that yet 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 continue to monitor the situation. I have nothing more to say or add.”

“When it comes to any kind of human rights issue, the president has been very consistent in speaking out loud and clear in public and also in private, and he will continue to do so. But I don’t have any specific commitments to speak of at this time,” he added.

Bangladesh is in a politically unstable situation since Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of prime minister on August 5 amid growing protests. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, turned into anti-government demonstrations.

A large number of people protested outside the White House in Washington on Friday against alleged violence against minority Hindus and others in Bangladesh since the overthrow of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The protesters carried American and Bangladeshi flags and held signs demanding that Bangladeshi minorities be “saved.” They chanted slogans such as “We want justice” and called for peace amid the recent surge in violence.

The crowd, which included activists from various human rights organizations, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora and Indian-American Hindu allies, hailed from Washington, Maryland, Virginia and New York.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for the “safety and protection” of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh in a message sent to X on Thursday.

“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus as he assumes his new responsibilities. We look forward to an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and security of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of our two peoples for peace, security and development,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have fled to neighbouring 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 has faced a backlash following 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.