Staff Reporter :
The US State Department has welcomed the interim government’s measures to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens in Bangladesh, including minority communities.
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce at a press conference on Wednesday said, “We have welcomed measures taken by Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure safety and security for all in Bangladesh.”
She further said that the United States cannot tolerate violence or intolerance against minorities in any country and her government is monitoring the situation.
“We condemn any instances of violence or intolerance directed toward members of minority communities in any country. That’s what we’re watching. That’s what we expect. And that will be what continues,” she added.
This statement came at a time when US intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard recently made controversial remarks during her visit to India regarding violence against minorities in Bangladesh and Islamist terrorism.
In an interview with Indian media outlet NDTV, Gabbard said that the violence against minorities and the threat of Islamist terrorism in Bangladesh stem from the ideology of establishing an “Islamic Caliphate.”
Her remarks drew strong reactions from the Bangladeshi government and different media outlets wrote articles rejecting her statement.
Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina government in a massive mass upsurge in July Revolution last year, the Indian media and even some of Modi government’s political leaders spread smear campaign of misinformation and disinformation regarding the minorities under attack.
Even the Prof Yunus led Interim Government urged openly the Indian media to visit the Bangladesh to see the first hand information instead of spreading propaganda on media.
Meanwhile, the US intelligence chief further stated, “Discussions have begun between the interim government of Bangladesh and the administration of US President Donald Trump, but concerns over Islamist terrorism remain unchanged.”
The Bangladeshi government viewed Gabbard’s remarks as imprudent and misleading.
In a strong protest, the Bangladeshi government declared the comments to be “false and harmful.”
They stated that the remarks were made with the intent to tarnish the country’s image.
In a statement, the Office of the Chief Adviser said, “Gabbard’s comments portray the entire nation in a one-sided and unfair manner.”
The statement further emphasised that Bangladesh practices a peaceful and inclusive form of Islam and has made remarkable progress in combating terrorism and extremism.
The Bangladeshi government added in its statement, “Bangladesh continues to work with the international community, including the United States, in the fight against terrorism. We are confronting this challenge through law enforcement, social reform, and other counter-terrorism measures.”
Meanwhile, the interim government of Bangladesh headed by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has recently undertaken various measures to ensure the protection of minority communities.
In particular, the role of law enforcement agencies has been strengthened to prevent violence against minorities.
Following these protective initiatives, the US State Department has extended its praise.
