White house denies U.S. involvement in Bangladesh political crisis
The White House firmly denied any U.S. involvement in the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh, dismissing claims that the United States played a role in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the issue during a press briefing on Monday, labeling allegations of U.S. interference as “simply false.”
Jean-Pierre clarified, “We have had no involvement at all. Any reports or rumors that the United States government was involved in these events is simply false.” Her statement came in response to media reports suggesting that Hasina had accused the U.S. of attempting to displace her in order to gain control over Bangladesh’s Saint Martin’s Island in the Bay of Bengal. The report claimed that Hasina had communicated these accusations through her close associates.
In response, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, refuted the claim on social media, stating that his mother never made such allegations.
The White House reiterated its position, emphasizing, “We believe that the Bangladeshi people should determine the future of the Bangladeshi government and that’s where we stand.”
Bangladesh’s political landscape shifted dramatically last week when an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in. The interim government has pledged to organize elections following widespread unrest and violence triggered by student protests against job quotas, which escalated into demands for Hasina’s resignation.
Hasina, who had governed Bangladesh for 15 consecutive years, departed for New Delhi after her resignation. Her administration faced criticism from various international quarters, including the U.S. State Department, which had previously labeled January’s election, in which Hasina secured a fourth term, as neither free nor fair.
