Bill Clinton, Sheikh Hasina (File photos)
A former Bangladeshi minister has alleged that the 2024 riots, which led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, were backed by USAID and the Bill Clinton family. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, who served in Hasina’s cabinet, made the claims in an interview with Russia Today. Chowdhury said that several US-based organisations had been “running campaigns” against the Awami League government since 2018. “Certain actions of some NGOs, especially from the United States, naming a few, I mean USAID or the International Republican Institute were aimed at destabilising us,” he said.The remarks come more than a year after Hasina was forced out of power. In August 2024, student-led protests over job quotas turned violent, killing more than 700 people, according to the interim government. Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, fled after protestors stormed her residence. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was later appointed chief adviser of the interim government. Chowdhury claimed the violence was not a sudden uprising but part of a “carefully planned” operation supported by Western interests. “There is a nexus between the Clinton family and the Yunus regime from a long time ago,” he alleged. “Funding through secret NGOs was taking place to bring regime change in Bangladesh.” He also questioned the use of US aid funds. “IRI was active, USAID’s fundings were going to nowhere. Where had that money gone? It was destined for regime change activities,” he said.The 85-year-old Muhammad Yunus, a close associate of Bill and Hillary Clinton, won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for introducing microcredit—small loans aimed at helping rural families escape poverty.Sheikh Hasina, currently residing in India, had leveled accusations against the United States after her exile, alleging their involvement in her removal from power. “I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it, I resigned from the premiership. I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal. I beseech to the people of my land, ‘Please do not be manipulated by radicals’,” Hasina said in a message, the Economic Times quoted her as saying.The White House denied any involvement, saying, “We have had no involvement at all. Any reports or rumors that the United States government was involved in these events is simply false,” White House spokesperson Jean-Pierre had said during a press briefing when asked about the alleged US involvement.The United States has long maintained friendly relations with Bangladesh’s military and military-backed governments and reportedly sees the recent change in power as a favourable development, according to The Hill.
