The White House firmly denied any U.S. involvement in the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh, calling the claim "simply false." Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 76, resigned on August 5 following a student-led uprising against her government and fled to India via helicopter. In response to allegations of U.S. interference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated, "We have had no involvement at all." She added during a press briefing, "Any reports or rumors that the United States government was involved in these events are simply false."
Jean-Pierre emphasized that "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." Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Ms. Hasina's son and former government adviser, alleged that unidentified foreign forces supported the protests but did not provide evidence to support his claim. Wazed suggested that only an intelligence agency would have the capability to smuggle weapons to protesters.
Previously, in May, Hasina claimed that a "white-skinned" foreign country was conspiring against her government after being denied permission to build an airbase. She had warned of potential election disruptions and criticized foreign interference without naming specific countries. The United States has maintained generally friendly relations with Bangladesh, viewing Hasina as a partner on issues such as Islamist extremism. However, Washington had criticized the perceived undemocratic trends in Bangladesh and had previously restricted visas for individuals accused of undermining elections. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of an interim government following Hasina's departure.
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