The Bangladesh crisis did not find a mention in the readout released by the United States following a phone call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fuelling further speculation of an unease in ties between the White House and Dhaka.
While the press release by the Ministry of External Affairs mentioned that PM Modi and Biden expressed their shared concern over the “situation in Bangladesh”, the White House readout was mum on the issue and focused only on the Ukraine-Russia war.
“They (PM Modi and Biden) emphasised the restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh,” the MEA statement said.
On the other hand, the White House readout had no reference to Bangladesh, saying the two leaders discussed PM Modi’s recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, as well as the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September.
“The President commended the Prime Minister for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister in decades, and for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector,” it said.
The US has largely remained silent on the crisis in Bangladesh, which saw massive student protests over a controversial quota system for government jobs. Over 500 died in the weeks-long violence, leading to the fall of the Hasina-led Awami League government.
The developments led to allegations that the US government influenced or interfered in the internal affairs of Bangladesh – a charge swiftly denied by the White House. The Hasina government has had troubled relations with the US recently.
Amid the crisis, Bangladeshi media cited excerpts from an undelivered speech by Hasina in which the deposed Prime Minister accused the US of pressuring her to allow the establishment of a naval base on St Martin’s Island.
Hasina allegedly mentioned that had she handed over St Martin’s Island to the US, her government would have survived. However, Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, refuted any such development.
The island, located in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, holds immense strategic value as it could provide a crucial foothold in the region, countering Chinese influence.
Vikram Sharma is a globe-trotting journalist with a global perspective on international events. His articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing insights into the world’s most pressing challenges.
