The US commented on the Bangladesh army after Prime Minister Hasina resigned
On August 6, Reuters reported that the US government commended the Bangladesh military for its “restraint” and urged the formation of a democratic interim government following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina resigned and fled to India after deadly violence and protests erupted from a movement against civil service recruitment policies, eventually morphing into a call for her resignation.
General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Bangladesh Army Chief, confirmed Hasina’s resignation in a televised address, announcing that an interim government would be established. “The United States has long advocated for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh, and we urge that the formation of the interim government be democratic and inclusive. We commend the military for the restraint they have shown today,” a White House spokesperson stated.
The White House and the US Department of State have called for all parties to exercise restraint and restore order as soon as possible. “We welcome the announcement of an interim government,” a State Department spokesperson added.
In a related development, the World Bank announced on August 5 that it is assessing the impact of the events in Bangladesh on its lending program. “We are evaluating the impact of the current situation on the World Bank Group’s program and remain committed to supporting the development aspirations of the Bangladeshi people,” said a World Bank spokesperson.
In June, the World Bank approved two projects totaling $900 million to help Bangladesh enhance its fiscal and budgetary policies and improve urban infrastructure for sustainable growth and climate change adaptation. The World Bank has been a key development partner for Bangladesh since its independence, committing around $41 billion in grants and interest-free credits to the disaster-prone country.
The World Bank Group has pledged a total of $2.85 billion in funding for Bangladesh for the fiscal year 2024, ending June 30.
