Lobbyists may have influenced Trump’s comment on Bangladesh minorities: CA’s press secy
US elections outcome won’t affect Dhaka-Washington ties, he says
In response to US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks regarding the alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the issue may have been influenced by lobbyists.
"It is a completely domestic political issue," Shafiqul said, addressing as the chief guest at a debate competition in Dhaka today (2 November).
Trump, on Thursday, condemned the "barbaric violence" against Hindus, Christians and other minorities who are "getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos."
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In an immediate reaction, Press Secretary Shafiqul on Friday said what Republican Donald Trump, who is running again for the White House, thinks about the events in Bangladesh "does obviously matter", but stressed that their task in the government is to tell the truth.
Today, the press secretary further said the results of the upcoming US election will not pose any challenge for the relations that the two countries maintain as Prof Muhammad Yunus as a global leader has very good ties with senior leaders of the both parties – the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.
"He [CA Prof Yunus] has friends in both parties. The relationship depends a lot on personal attachment. Prof Yunus is a global leader. So, whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins the US election, there will be no challenge for our relationship."
The electoral system in the US is called a two-party system. That means that the Republican Party and the Democratic Party dominate the political field in all three levels of government.
Other parties, often generally termed "third parties", in the US include The Green Party, Libertarians, Constitution Party and Natural Law Party.
Press Secretary Shafiqul further said Bangladesh's relations with India are good and Bangladesh wants to continue this good relationship with them.
"We received support from all over the world in the unprecedented mass uprising that took place in Bangladesh. No evil force can survive when the people wake up," he said.
The judges of the competition were Prof Tajul Islam Chowdhury Tuhin, Prof AKM Mazharul Islam, Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) President Nurul Islam Hasib, General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu and Journalist Md Atiqur Rahman.
