Washington: Western powers on Monday called for calm in Bangladesh after long-ruling leader Sheikh Hasina fled, with the United States saluting the military for forming an interim government rather than cracking down further on protesters.
Sheikh Hasina, who has close ties to regional power India, has enjoyed mostly cooperative relations with the West during her 15 years in power but has come under increasing criticism for her authoritarian turn.
The United States called on all sides in Bangladesh to “refrain from further violence” as bullet-riddled bodies littered hospital floors and looting broke out in the capital, Dhaka.
“Too many lives have been lost over the past few weeks, and we ask for calm and restraint in the coming days,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh's founding father, sought to quell a nationwide uprising that began with student-led protests against employment quotas. Nearly 100 people died on Sunday as calls grew for him to step down.
Miller said the United States has seen reports that the military has refused to crack down on more crackdowns on student-led demonstrations.
“If it is true that the army resisted calls to crack down on legal protesters, that would be a positive development,” he said.
“We welcome the interim government's announcement and urge any transition to be conducted in accordance with the laws of Bangladesh,” he said.
Asked if the army should choose another leadership, Miller said, “We want to see the people of Bangladesh decide the future government of Bangladesh.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a “peaceful, orderly and democratic transition” as well as a “full, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into all incidents of violence,” his spokesman Farhan Haque said.
Britain, Bangladesh's former colonial power, called on the United Nations to lead an investigation.
“The people of Bangladesh deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks,” Foreign Secretary David Lamy said in a statement.
The European Union has also called for “calm and restraint”.
“It is important to ensure an orderly and peaceful transition to a democratically elected government with full respect for human rights and democratic principles,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
There was no immediate reaction from regional governments to the fall of Hasina, who sought the delicate balancing act of enjoying support from India while maintaining strong ties with China.
India has issued an advisory strongly advising its citizens not to travel to Bangladesh. According to Indian media, Hasina flew to a military air base near New Delhi.
A top-level source said she wants to transit to London, but it is unclear whether she will be allowed to.
Hasina had largely productive relations with the Western powers during her tenure. The United States has praised her economic track record in the past and sees Hasina as a partner on priorities such as countering Islamist extremism and sheltering Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar.
But in recent years the United States has criticized him for authoritarian tendencies and imposed visa restrictions on concerns about democracy.
State Department spokesman Miller said the United States has provided $2 billion to help refugees in Bangladesh.
“We think it is important that we continue to work with Bangladesh to continue to offer hospitality to refugees,” he said.
