TDS Desk

US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the still unstable security situation in Bangladesh four months after the ouster of dictator Sheikh Hasina, and his officials have been collaborating extensively with Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies to contain the security fallout precipitated by the regime change.

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby made the revelations at a press briefing on Thursday, adding the US would want to hold Dhaka accountable for potential attacks on people, irrespective of their religious or ethnic identity.

“We’re watching this very, very, very closely, and the president is following events closely as well,” Kirby told reporters.

The Prof Yunus-led interim government has been struggling to contain a wave of security situations including arbitrary street blockades enforced by different civilian groups, and daring criminal attacks, while a strong presence of Hasina-allied officers in the police force aggravates the crisis.

However, using the security lapses as a pretext, a number of Indian media outlets, politicians and vested immigrant groups have been spreading fake reports of attacks on minority Hindus in Bangladesh.

On Thursday, Lalit K Jha, the head of PTI bureau in Washington DC, alleged, without evidence, that since the 5 August ouster of pro-Indian Hasina, killings of Hindus and vandalism of Hindu temples have continued across Bangladesh.

To justify his claims, Jha only hinted at demonstrations staged by different American Hindu groups across US cities protesting the attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus.

Jha then asked Kirby, “Is the president [Biden] aware about it? Did he raise this issue when he met his friend and the interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the UN?”

“We have been very clear in our engagement with all Bangladeshi leaders that protection of religious and ethnic minorities … security to all Bangladeshis regardless of religion or ethnicity. We want to hold them to that,” Kirby replied.

Earlier in the briefing, Kirby said, “The security situation in Bangladesh has been difficult following the ouster of the former prime minister. And we have been working closely with the interim government to enhance the capability of their law enforcement and security services to deal with the challenge.”