US keeps out of Hasina, AL matters
The United States has reaffirmed that decisions concerning Bangladesh’s internal political affairs, including the status of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and restrictions on Awami League activities, should be taken by Bangladesh, underscoring Washington’s stated position of respecting Dhaka’s sovereignty.
A senior US State Department official said Washington had not adopted a formal position on what should happen to Hasina or whether restrictions on the Awami League should be lifted.
The official also described US relations with Bangladesh and the BNP-led government as being in a strong position.
The remarks came at an on-background briefing titled “US Policy in Support of a Stable, Prosperous and Sovereign South Asia” at the New York Foreign Press Center on Wednesday. Journalists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka attended the briefing.
Asked specifically about Hasina, who has been convicted and sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, the official said: “We have not weighed in specifically on what we think should happen with Hasina.”
On whether restrictions on Awami League activities should be lifted, the official said: “That decision has to be made by the Bangladesh government.”
The official repeatedly declined to comment on Bangladesh’s domestic politics, while stressing Washington’s continuing engagement with the elected government.
“I do not want to comment on Bangladesh’s domestic politics,” the official said, adding that US relations with Bangladesh and the BNP were in a “very excellent” position.
Washington wanted to continue working with the elected government to help make Bangladesh stronger, safer and more prosperous, the official said.
Hasina issue
On Hasina’s continued stay in India, the US official acknowledged that the issue had become a major source of tension in relations between Bangladesh and India.
Washington hopes the two countries will discuss the matter and reach a resolution, the official said, while making clear that the US had not specified what should happen to Hasina.
Hasina has been living in India since August 5, 2024, after leaving Bangladesh amid the mass uprising that led to the fall of her government.
A journalist raised her stated intention to return to Bangladesh by December, but the official again said Washington had not taken a formal position on the issue.
No pressure to choose sides
Beyond the Hasina issue, the official outlined Washington’s broader approach to Bangladesh and South Asia, saying the United States was not asking Bangladesh to choose between major powers.
Instead, Washington wanted to provide alternatives, particularly in sensitive areas such as critical infrastructure and telecommunications.
The official said the US and India were also exploring cooperation on ports and next-generation digital infrastructure, including 6G standards.
The comments came as Bangladesh seeks to maintain relations with major powers while protecting its own economic and strategic interests.
Trump-Tarique meeting
Asked about the possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman or Bangladesh’s foreign minister, the official deferred to the White House on scheduling.
The official noted that Trump had briefly met Bangladesh’s foreign minister during the week, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also met him in Manila on the sidelines of an ASEAN-related engagement.
Before the briefing, Bethany Morrison, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, spoke separately on developments in South Asia and the Trump administration’s regional policies.
The US position, as outlined at the briefing, leaves decisions on Hasina’s status and the future of Awami League activities with Bangladesh, while Washington seeks to maintain close engagement with the elected government and broader regional cooperation.
