The United States played no role in the ousting of Sheikh Hasina from power, and any allegations suggesting otherwise are unfounded. This shift in leadership was the result of the will of the Bangladeshi people.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made this statement during a regular press briefing on Monday, August 12. Addressing a question about Bangladesh, Jean-Pierre emphasized that the U.S. firmly believes that the future of any government should be determined by its people.
Jean-Pierre further stated, “The U.S. had no role in the removal of Sheikh Hasina. Claims suggesting U.S. involvement are mere rumours and falsehoods. Any allegations of U.S. involvement in this matter are completely untrue. This change was driven by the people of Bangladesh, and we believe that the citizens of Bangladesh should be the ones to determine the future of their government.”
On August 5, Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh amidst widespread public protests. General Waqar-uz-Zaman, the country’s military chief, confirmed that she resigned from her position as Prime Minister before departing, although her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has claimed that she did not step down.
Meanwhile, an article in The Economic Times reported that Sheikh Hasina blamed the U.S. for her ouster, alleging that it was due to her refusal to cede control of Saint Martin’s Island to the United States. Additionally, The Print, another Indian media outlet, reported that Hasina addressed her party members, expressing her intention to accept defeat and return to Bangladesh soon.
However, Sajeeb Wazed Joy contradicted these reports, stating that his mother has not made any public statements since leaving Dhaka. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 11, he wrote, “A statement has been published in a newspaper regarding my mother’s resignation, which is entirely false and fabricated. I just spoke with her, and she confirmed that she has not issued any statements before or after leaving Dhaka.”
