Washington: A US State Department official said that his country is in touch with India and other countries in the region regarding Bangladesh. The official said that America wants the violence in Bangladesh to end. US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in his daily press conference, “We are constantly making efforts to end violence in Bangladesh, accountability and respect for the rule of law.” He was responding to a question about the dialogue between India and the US on the situation in Bangladesh after the Sheikh Hasina government was ousted.
Contact with other countries including India
Vedant Patel said, “We are in touch with our Indian partners as well as other countries in the region to discuss recent developments in Bangladesh.” He also welcomed the statement of Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus in which he has called for ending violence and maintaining peace. Patel said, “We welcome the decisions of the new governments to restore the safety and protection of the people of the minority community.”
Silence is unacceptable’
Meanwhile, the ‘Hindu American Foundation’ on Wednesday urged the White House to take action to protect the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh. The foundation said, “According to the latest reports, the President (Joe Biden) is not commenting on the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus despite continuous reports of attacks.” The foundation said in a post on the social media platform ‘X’, “Demand action now! The silence of the President, Vice President and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the atrocities against Bangladeshi Hindus is unacceptable. Lives lost, homes and temples destroyed – yet there is no condemnation from our US government.”
Bangladesh will be a Taliban country’
Washington-based NGO ‘Hindu Action’ claimed that Hindus are being targeted the most in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The NGO said on ‘X’. “Their remote location gives them more leeway and time to target them. Now that Muhammad Yunus is the new caretaker leader, the vice president and the foreign ministry should work towards grassroots education and awareness that will ensure that anti-Hindu sentiments are removed from the country’s madrasa curriculum and general mindset,” the NGO said. “We hope the president and his advisers realise that if Bangladesh loses its last 8 per cent Hindus, it will be a Taliban country,” it added.
