White House commends Bangladesh army, urges inclusive interim government formation
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The United States government has praised the Bangladesh army for showing restraint and has called for a democratic formation of an interim government after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country.
"Too many lives have been lost already," a White House Spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated. "We express our deep concern and sadness about the reports of casualties and injuries over the weekend and past weeks."
Hasina's departure followed a violent crackdown on protests, initially sparked by opposition to preferential job quotas and escalating into demands for her resignation. General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the army chief, announced her resignation in a televised address, stating that an interim government would be established.
"The United States has long called for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh, and we urge that the interim government formation be democratic and inclusive. We commend the army for the restraint they have shown today," said the White House spokesperson.
The White House and the State Department have both urged all parties to refrain from violence and restore peace as soon as possible. The State Department welcomed the announcement of the interim government formation.
When questioned about the impact of the government change on aid programs for Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, the State Department spokesperson declined immediate comment. Since 2017, the US has provided over $2 billion in assistance for the refugees.
In January, the State Department criticized the Bangladeshi elections, stating they were not free and fair, and expressed concern over reports of vote irregularities and condemned election-related violence. Recently, Washington has urged the Bangladeshi government to uphold the right to peaceful protest.
United Nations spokesman Farhan Haq also called for calm and restraint, urging all parties to respect the right to peaceful assembly and expression. "We urge security forces to protect those out on the streets of Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh," Haq said.