White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks in the course of the every day briefing on the White Home in Washington, Aug. 12, 2024. | Photograph credit score: AP
America had “no position by any means” within the ouster of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the White Home mentioned Monday, describing the declare as “merely false.”
Ms Hasina, 76, resigned as prime minister on August 5 after a student-led rebellion in opposition to her authorities and fled by helicopter to India, her former ally.
Requested about allegations of US interference, White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned: “We have now had no involvement.”
“Any experiences or rumors that the U.S. authorities was concerned in these occasions are merely false,” he mentioned at a information convention.
“That is an election of the individuals of Bangladesh and for the individuals of Bangladesh. We consider that the individuals of Bangladesh ought to decide the way forward for the federal government of Bangladesh, and that’s our place.”
Ms Hasina’s son and former authorities adviser Sajeeb Wazed Pleasure had alleged that unidentified overseas forces had been supporting the protests, a declare for which he offered no proof.
“I feel that is coming from past Bangladesh at this level,” he mentioned over the weekend.
“Solely an intelligence company would have the flexibility to smuggle and provide weapons to protesters,” mentioned US-based Wazed.
In Could, Ms Hasina had alleged {that a} “white-skinned” overseas nation was conspiring in opposition to her authorities after it was denied permission to construct an air base.
“Subsequent time, they mentioned, there shall be no elections within the nation,” he instructed a gathering of his then ruling Awami League-led alliance, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
“We have now liberated this nation by a battle. I don’t need to achieve energy by renting or handing over sure elements of my nation to anybody,” he mentioned, including that “the conspiracy continues to be happening,” with out specifying which nation is behind it.
America has typically maintained pleasant relations with Bangladesh, and Hasina is seen as a companion on a spread of points, together with shared considerations about Islamist extremism.
However Washington had criticised what it noticed as an undemocratic flip in Bangladesh and had beforehand restricted visas for Bangladeshi residents accused of undermining elections.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as head of an interim authorities following the ouster of autocratic Hasina.
