Bangladesh blamed Washington’s Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, who said her comments on religious violence in the South Asian country were unfounded and risked inciting sectarian tensions.
This week, Gabbard arrived for a diplomatic trip to India. Diplomatic trips with India have worsened relations with Bangladesh since a student-led uprising overthrew the latter government last year.
New Delhi repeatedly accused Bangladesh of not properly protecting minority Hindu citizens.
However, Gabbard appeared to be giving credit to his claims when asked about violence in Bangladesh in an interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV on Monday.
“Long years of unfortunate persecution, murder and abuse of religious minorities have been areas of great concern for the US government,” she responded.
She said the issue, along with Islamic extremism, remains a “central focus of concern” and that the Trump administration has already raised them along with the Bangladeshi government.
Bangladesh responded today in today’s statement that Gabbard’s comments “misleading” and “damage” the country’s image and reputation.
“Political leaders and public figures should be careful not to intensify harmful stereotypes, fan fears, or potentially sectarian tensions, particularly based on real knowledge based on sensitive issues,” the statement said.
Hindus account for around 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people.
In the chaotic days following the August expulsion of Indian-backed authoritarian former priest Sheikh Hasina, there was a series of attacks on the Hindus.
Bangladesh told India that Hasina, who fled to New Delhi after being exiled in August, hopes to return to the country for the “judicial process,” the country’s Foreign Ministry secretary said in December last year.
The caretaker government, who replaces her, argues that many of these attacks are motivated by politics rather than religion.
It also accused the Indian media and government of spreading and exaggerating disinformation to Bangladeshi Hindus.
Gabbard met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington last month, and soon met after serving as Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump.
The pair met again on Monday, and Gabbard used his speech at a geopolitical meeting in New Delhi to praise the enduring partnership between the US and India.
“I am confident that this partnership and friendship between our two countries and our leaders will continue to grow and strengthen,” she added.
