Bangladesh
We have had no involvement at all, says US official on Bangladesh crisis
The United States on Monday rejected claims that the government was involved in the recent protests in Bangladesh which led to the fall of the former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government in the South Asian nation.
Negating all rumours and reports, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre told reporters during an interaction: "We have had no involvement at all. Any reports or rumours that the United States government was involved in these events are simply false. That is not true."
She said the people of Bangladesh should determine the future of the government.
Bangladesh is currently ruled by an interim government under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Karine Jean Pierre said: " 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. "
She said the USA is going to monitor the situation after reports emerged that protests were held recently outside the White House over the attacks on Hindu community members in Bangladesh since the exit of the Sheikh Hasina government.
"We are going to continue monitoring the situation. I don’t have anything else to add. But when it comes to any type of human rights issues here, the president has been very consistent in speaking loud and clear in public and also privately."
Meanwhile, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who last week took oath as head of Bangladesh's interim government, has praised students who spearheaded protests to oust former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"There is no doubt... because of the student-led revolution the whole government collapsed..." Yunus told reporters after a Sunday night meeting with the students.
"I said (to the students), 'I respect you... I admire you. What you have done is absolutely unparalleled... and because you ordered me to do this (to take charge of the interim administration) I accept...'," Yunus said, recounting part of the conversation he had with the students.
Two of the student protesters, Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, are part of a 16-member advisory council that was sworn in with Yunus.
Bangladesh witnessed turmoil in recent weeks which began with students protesting against job quotas and then slowly spiralled into a mass movement that demanded former PM Sheikh Hasina's resignation.
The violence led to the death of over 300 people.
The showdown took a new turn when former PM Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign which led to the toppling of her government and ending her 15-year rule.
Hasina escaped to India in a helicopter.
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