By Luis De Jesus
The United States on Monday called for a peaceful transition in Bangladesh, after announcing the formation of a transitional government following the exile of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Student protests in recent weeks have left a tragic toll of more than 300 deaths.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a press conference: “We urge all parties to avoid further violence. The past few weeks have been marked by significant loss of life, and we call for calm and restraint in the days ahead,” Efe reported.
Miller also expressed U.S. support for the announcement of an interim government and stressed the importance of the transition being carried out in compliance with Bangladeshi law.
Regarding reports of recent human rights violations, the Biden administration said it was “deeply saddened” and sent its condolences to the families of the victims.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed at a press conference the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and called for an immediate end to violence in the country.
Since fleeing to India accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, Hasina has made no public statements or revealed her future plans.
The future of Bangladesh is uncertain due to the intense rivalry between the two main political parties and the risk of military intervention, which has already occurred in the past in 1975 and 1982.
Monday marked the climax of weeks of protests, during which hundreds of people stormed the prime minister’s official residence in Dhaka after nearly 100 people were killed in the most violent clashes yet.
Keep reading:
• Bangladeshi Prime Minister resigns and leaves country after protests
• Several Americans were injured after attack on an air base in Iraq
• What is the position of the Arab countries on the Hamas-Israel conflict?