US Secretary Blinken welcomes Bangladesh interim government

Aug 10, 2024

Washington DC [US], August 10 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday welcomed the swearing-in of Muhammad Yunus as the leader of the interim government in Bangladesh.
Blinken expressed the US' support for Yunus's call for calm and peace, emphasizing their commitment to working with Bangladesh as it pursues a democratic and prosperous future for its people.
"I welcome the swearing in of Dr. Muhammad Yunus to lead the interim government in Bangladesh. The United States supports his call for calm and peace and remains committed to working with Bangladesh as it charts a democratic and prosperous future the people in Bangladesh," Blinken said in a post on X.
https://x.com/SecBlinken/status/1822016251243458675
Earlier on Friday, people who have come from Bangladesh to India expressed optimism about the interim government's ability to stabilize the country, though concerns about minority safety persisted.
Shazia Sultana, who traveled from Nilphamari, Bangladesh, to Fulbari Land Customs Station in Jalpaiguri, said she believed the situation would improve with the interim government in place.
"Interim Government has been formed in Bangladesh. So, I feel that everything will be fine," she said.
Another traveler, Mohd Shaheen Sarkar, noted that they had come to India after witnessing significant turmoil in Bangladesh.
The ongoing political crisis and violence in Bangladesh have drawn international condemnation.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), through its Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Sunil Ambekar, on Friday condemned the recent violence targeting minority communities, including Hindus and Buddhists.
Sunil Ambekar said that the RSS condemned the recent violence against minority communities, including Hindus and Buddhists in Bangladesh. He further stated that the violence has included targeted killings, looting, arson, and attacks on temples and religious places.
On Friday, approximately 1,000 individuals, reportedly Bangladeshi nationals, approached the India-Bangladesh border in Coochbehar District, West Bengal, seeking refuge.
The Border Security Force (BSF) quickly coordinated with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) to manage the situation, ensuring that the Bangladeshi nationals were taken back without escalating tensions.