Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh has reacted to the response of Mathew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, to a question during a regular press briefing on Monday with extreme disappointment, as he claimed that two persons had been killed in clashes during protests for quota reform in public sector jobs.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Seheli Sabrin said on Tuesday that Miller had made unsubstantiated claims of at least two deaths during the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh.
Use of unverified information to make such baseless claims could fuel violence and undermine the government’s efforts to maintain a peaceful environment to allow non-violent protests or movements, she said in a statement.
US condemns violence against quota reform protesters in BangladeshUS condemns violence against quota reform protesters in Bangladesh
“Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of our democracy, and the government remains steadfast to uphold those rights of the citizens while also safeguarding the public property and order. Violence does not have any place in democracy and politics,” reads the statement.
She also noted an assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump and said that to uphold democracy and democratic values, “we are committed to working together.”
“We have recently witnessed with horror an attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump during a peaceful rally in Pennsylvania, US. We are deeply concerned by the incident. Such violence runs against the core values of democracy.”
Protest showdown: Student movement, Chhatra League to hold protests nationwideProtest showdown: Student movement, Chhatra League to hold protests nationwide
Seheli also mentioned that the prime minister and the foreign minister had separately condemned the attack and breathed a sigh of relief learning Trump was safe and recovering.
Miller, replying to Bangladeshi journalist Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, said the US was aware of and was monitoring reports of widespread student protests in Dhaka and around Bangladesh.
“So we are aware of and are monitoring reports of widespread student protests in Dhaka and around Bangladesh that have killed two and attacked and injured hundreds. The freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are essential building blocks of any thriving democracy, and we condemn any violence against peaceful protesters. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this violence.”
Dhaka Tribune emailed the US embassy in Dhaka seeking details about the two individuals, as there has been no confirmation of their deaths in Bangladeshi media and it appears to be a rumour.
The embassy did not reply.
However, in response to a question in a WhatsApp group, a spokesperson for the embassy said: “The spokesperson said that we are monitoring reports. We continue to do so. We are always looking for the most accurate information and welcome journalists’ work to uncover the truth.”
The embassy did not clarify where the US had found the information that two individuals had been killed and could not provide their names.
