Tulsi Gabbard’s remarks about Bangladesh minorities are ‘serious’, says interim foreign minister Touhid

A government cannot make ‘two separate statements’, he says

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has underlined US Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard’s remarks on “persecution, killing and abuse of religious minorities in Bangladesh being a concern for her government” as “a serious statement”.

On Tuesday, he said the interim government had already responded to her statement.

A government cannot give “two separate statements”, he added

In an interview with the Indian news channel NDTV World on Monday, Gabbard said: "The unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse of religious minorities like Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others for a long time has been a major area of concern for the US government and President Trump and his administration."

In response to comments made by the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) expressed deep concern, saying the comments were "not based on evidence”.

In a statement on Monday night, the CAO said Gabbard's comments were not based on any evidence or specific allegations that paint an entire nation with a broad and unjustified brush.

“Bangladesh, like many countries around the world, has faced challenges of extremism, but it has continuously worked in partnership with the international community, including the US, to address these issues through law enforcement, social reforms, and other counterterrorism efforts.”

The CAO said, “We note with deep concern and distress the remarks made by DNI Tulsi Gabbard, in which she alleged persecution and killing of religious minorities in Bangladesh and that the threat of Islamic terrorists in the country is rooted in the ideology and objective to rule and govern with an Islamist caliphate.

“This statement is both misleading and damaging to the image and reputation of Bangladesh.”

Touhid’s colleague in the advisory council, Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed, said there would be "no problem" in economic relations between the two countries over Gabbard's remarks about "religious minorities being persecuted in Bangladesh and the US's concern over it”.