Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday accused the United States of seeking a regime change in the country, bdnews24 reported.
“They are trying to eliminate democracy and introduce a government that will not have a democratic existence,” Hasina said in Parliament.
“It’ll be an undemocratic action.”
Sheikh Hasina ’s criticism of the United States comes at a time when Washington has pulled up her party. The Awami League on issues related to human rights.
The United States sanctioned several former and current leaders of the Rapid Action Battalion in December.”
The government allegedly tasked the RAB, an elite paramilitary unit in Bangladesh, with carrying out enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
In the same month, American Ambassador Peter Haas had met families of victims of alleged enforced disappearance under Hasina’s rule.
This included the family of Sajedul Islam Sumon, a leader of the Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
In February, Derek Chollet, the US State Department counsellor, expressed concern about the decline of democracy in Bangladesh.
He had warned that this would limit American cooperation with Dhaka and urged Hasina to ensure free and fair elections.