US intel chief鈥檚 remark misleading: govt
Interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday in a meeting with the United States senator, Gary Peters, said that the attacks on the minorities, notably Hindus, following the changeover in August last year were politically, not religiously, motivated and his government had taken prompt actions against the culprits.
The chief adviser made the remarks as the US senator called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, according to a press release issued by the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing.
Professor Yunus reaffirmed his government鈥檚 commitment to upholding the human rights of every citizen of the country irrespective of their colour, creed, race, sex and gender.
鈥楬e said the attacks on the minorities, notably Hindus, following the changeover in August last year were politically, not religiously, motivated, but his government has taken prompt actions against the culprits,鈥� said the release.
Professor Yunus urged the US senator to visit cities and towns across Bangladesh and invited other US political leaders, journalists and activists to tour the country to know the actual information on religious harmony.
鈥榃e need your help. Please tell your friends to travel to Bangladesh. This way we can combat these misinformation campaigns,鈥� the chief said in the meeting with Gary Peters, a Democrat Party member, who arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit to Bangladesh on Monday.
During the hour-long meeting, the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest and ways to deepen relationships between the two friendly countries.
鈥楽enator Peters inquired about the reform initiatives of the interim government, the reports of key commissions and the interim government鈥檚 plan to hold free and fair elections,鈥� said the release.
The chief adviser said that the government would hold elections in December if the political parties agreed to fewer reforms.
鈥楤ut the general elections would be held a few months later if the parties wanted a bigger package of reforms from the interim government,鈥� he said, assuring that the election would be free and fair. It would be held in a festive mood. There would be big celebrations on the election day, like the ones we have seen in the past,鈥� the chief adviser said.
Professor Yunus said that the political parties would sign a July Charter once they agreed to the reforms proposed by the major commissions. 鈥楾he July Charter will set the future course of the country,鈥� he added.
Peters appreciated the reform agenda of the government, saying that the US was looking forward to a smooth democratic transition in Bangladesh.
Senator Peters said that many Bangladeshi-origin people reside in his constituency in Michigan, including the city of Detroit. Some of them have expressed concern over the attacks on the minorities in recent months, he added.
He said that there had also been massive amounts of misinformation over the minority attacks. Some of this misinformation had permeated into the US, raising concerns among minority groups, the US senator said.
The two leaders also discussed social businesses, a world without poverty and microcredit as a tool to fight poverty both in the US and the rest of the world.
The US senator later held a courtesy meeting with foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the State Guest House Padma.
The foreign adviser told him that some quarters from home and abroad were spreading misinformation and disinformation about Bangladesh, according to a foreign ministry release.
He urged the senator to reflect the true scenario of Bangladesh to help the country fight against those, the release added.
US Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard on Monday told NDTV World that the US was deeply concerned about the situation in Bangladesh.聽聽
In an exclusive interview with the Indian television channel, the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said, 鈥楾he longtime unfortunate persecution, killing and abuse of religious minorities like Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others have been a major area of concern for the US government and President Trump and his administration.鈥�
She went on to say that the new Cabinet under Donald Trump began talks with the interim government in Bangladesh.
Later on the day, Bangladesh interim government in a statement condemned Tulsi Gabbard鈥檚 remarks about Bangladesh, saying those were misleading and not based on evidence.
鈥楪roundlessly linking Bangladesh to the idea of an 鈥淚slamist caliphate鈥� undermines the hard work of countless Bangladeshis and their friends and partners around the world who are committed to peace, stability, and progress,鈥� it said.
Meanwhile, authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of a western Indian city on Tuesday, a day after sectarian clashes were sparked by Hindu nationalist groups who wanted to demolish the tomb of a 17th-century Muslim Mughal ruler, reported United News of Bangladesh/Associated Press in New Delhi.
Clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Nagpur city broke out on Monday during a protest led by Hindu nationalist groups demanding the demolition of the tomb of Aurangzeb, the report mentioned.