US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce condemns violence against minorities in Bangladesh during a press briefing

Washington, DC: During her press conference on Wednesday, US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce denounced the violence in Bangladesh targeting minorities.

Bruce said that the United States applauded the interim government’s efforts to curb such violence in response to recent comments made by U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard concerning Bangladesh.

“We applaud the actions done by Bangladesh’s interim administration to guarantee everyone’s safety and security in Bangladesh and condemn any acts of violence or intolerance against members of minority populations in any nation. What we’re seeing is that. We anticipate that. And that’s what’s going to continue,” Bruce said.

The interim administration of Bangladesh has voiced serious concerns over Tulsi Gabbard’s statements about an “Islamist caliphate,” calling them “misleading and damaging” to the nation’s brand and image.

“DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s statements that “the threat of Islamic terrorists” in Bangladesh is “rooted” in the “ideology and objective” to “rule and govern with an Islamist caliphate” and that “persecution and killing” of religious minorities in the country are deeply concerning and distressing.

In a statement released late Monday, Bangladesh’s interim government said, “This statement is both misleading and damaging to the image and reputation of Bangladesh, a nation whose traditional practice of Islam has been famously inclusive and peaceful and that has made remarkable strides in its fight against extremism and terrorism.”

In an interview with an Indian television station, Gabbard said that the “Islamic Caliphate” philosophy and the ways in which extremist forces have impacted other nations.

The government of Bangladesh condemned Gabbard’s remarks, claiming they were unsupported by any facts and unjustly generalized a whole country.

“Gabbard’s remarks are not supported by any particular accusations or proof. They use a wide and unwarranted brush to describe a whole country. Like many other nations, Bangladesh has struggled with extremism, but it has consistently collaborated with the US and other members of the international community to address these problems through social reforms, law enforcement, and other counterterrorism initiatives,” the statement said.