US monitoring reports of student protests: Miller

MoFA disappointed over claim

Business Eye Report

The US Department of State has said they have received reports of widespread student protests against the quota system in government jobs in Bangladesh.
During a regular media briefing in Washington on Monday (local time), US Department of State Spokesperson Mathew Miller said, "We are aware of and are monitoring reports of widespread student protests in Dhaka and around Bangladesh."
Spokesperson Miller said, "The 'freedom of expression and peaceful assembly' are essential building blocks of any thriving democracy."
"We condemn any violence against peaceful protesters. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this violence," he said during the briefing.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has expressed extreme disappointment over the US State Department's unsubstantiated claim of deaths of at least two persons, and said such "baseless claim" can fuel the violence and undermine the Bangladesh government's efforts.
"Use of unverified information to make such baseless claims can fuel violence and undermine Bangladesh government's efforts to maintain a peaceful environment to allow non-violent protests or movement," Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin said on Tuesday.
She said the foreign ministry is "extremely disappointed" by the response of Mathew Miller, Spokesperson of the US State Department, to a question during a regular press briefing on July 15, 2024 (Washington time), where he made unsubstantiated claims of at least two deaths in the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh.
The foreign ministry spokesperson said freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of democracy, and the government remains steadfast in upholding those rights of the citizens while also safeguarding public property and order.
She said violence does not have any place in democracy and politics.
"We have recently witnessed with horror an attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump during a peaceful rally in Pennsylvania, USA," Sabrin said.
She said they are "deeply concerned" by the incident and such violence runs against the core values of democracy.
"The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh have separately condemned the attack and sighed relief learning that Trump was safe and recovering," she said.  
To uphold democracy and democratic values, the foreign ministry spokesperson said they are committed to working together with the US.