Russia objects that US envoy's Shaheenbagh visit is meddling in internal affairs of Bangladesh

Dhaka, Dec 27: Russia said the US ambassador's visit to Shaheenbagh to meet with the family of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader is an attempt to interfere in the domestic affairs of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi media reported citing a statement released by the Russian embassy to Bangladesh.

 

 

 

 

While addressing the reporters at a regular briefing in Moscow, on Thursday (Dec 22), Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that the US ambassador was "persistently trying to influence the domestic processes in the country." Zakharova also said that the US ambassador is hiding behind the pretext of caring about the rights of the Bangladeshi.

 

 

 

Previously, on Dec 14, the US ambassador visited the residence of BNP leader Sajedul Islam, who went missing around a decade ago. During the ambassador's visit, a group of people tried to ambush Peter D Haas as he came out of the house. However, he was able to leave the area safely with the help of his security detail. Following this, Hass held an urgent meeting with Bangladesh Minister of Foreign Affairs AK Abdul Momen questioning how the details of his visit got leaked.

 

 

The US informed the highest level of the Bangladesh government about its concern regarding the incident involving the US ambassador in Dhaka, Peter Haas. The matter has been discussed in Washington too. During discussions with Bangladesh's ambassador to the US, Mohammad Imran on 15 December, the US Assistant Secretary of State of Central and South Asian affairs Donald Lu expressed concern for Haas' security.