No role of US ‘deep state’ in Bangladesh, says Trump

US President Donald Trump on Friday categorically denied role of US “deep state” in the last year’s political tumult in Bangladesh. Trump’s assertion comes at a time when several diplomatic analysts speculated US “deep state’s” role behind the ouster of the 16-year-old rule of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh last year.

Trump denied the US involvement in Bangladesh, during a joint press conference with PM Modi, following their meeting in Washington DC.

Replying to a question about the US involvement in Bangladesh, Trump said, “Well, there was no role for our ‘deep state’. This is something that the Prime Minister has been working for a long time. He has been working on it for hundreds of years. Frankly, I have been reading about it.”

Trump made it clear that the matter would be handled by PM Modi saying, “But I will leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister.”

Besides, Trump was also asked about billionaire George Soros’ son Alex Soros meetings with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who heads the interim government in Bangladesh. Alex Soros is considered a controversial figure in India.

Alex Soros is the chairman of the Open Society Foundations, a body accused of supporting “independent” Kashmir. He had met Yunus twice since the regime change in the country.

Trump’s remarks come at a time when his administration has halted all aid to the Bangladesh government.