Take care of your own house first, PM Hasina tells the US

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has advised the government of the United States to take care of issues in its own country first instead of giving Bangladesh and other countries ‘lectures’ on human rights.

She also denounced the use of US security forces to quell pro-Palestinian protests and the funding and arms the country provided to Israel to carry out a “genocide”.

When asked about the shooting deaths of two Bangladeshis in the US, the premier said, “They (the US) should focus on the violations of human rights and shooting deaths of ordinary people in their own country as one should look to one’s own house first.”

Several Bangladeshi nationals have recently died in various shooting and stabbing incidents in the US. Two Bangladeshis were shot dead in broad daylight in the city of Buffalo, New York in the latest incident.

The prime minister was asked about the issue during her press conference on her recent trip to Thailand.

“We [the government] have already protested against the incident. Protests are being held even in America, the affiliate organisation of the ruling Awami League is very vocal there.”

“It is not just expatriate Bangladeshis, America has turned into a land where people get killed continuously. A mother was holding a child who was gunned down by police. What was the crime of the child? He was carrying a pair of scissors and the security forces shot him dead because they were scared of the scissors. He might have been using it for a game or any other work.”

“A labourer, who was crippled, unable to walk, was accused of threatening the president and shot dead. Frequent deaths and shootings are taking place in schools, shopping malls and restaurants. There is probably not a single day when people are not shot and killed in America.”

Criticising the ‘two-faced’ US policy on the issue of Palestine despite their discussion of human rights elsewhere, Hasina said, “This is my question too. We have been asking this question at the international level as well. What is that two-faced policy for?”

“When people kill, then they are given money. They get weapons to kill people. But elsewhere that same country is seen as outspoken about human rights.”

Criticising domestic and foreign human rights organisations, she said, “And these human rights agencies… There are many big human rights advocates in our country too, why are they silent now?”

“Why don’t they take action? From journalists to human rights organisations, many are vocal about Bangladesh, why are they silent now?”

The prime minister instead praised the common people, saying, “The world is waking up today to protest against the killings of women and children, the bomb attacks on hospitals. This is the most important thing. And the US is arresting protesters and that’s what they call their democratic process.”

Highlighting the fact that she has always been against war due to being a victim of it herself, Hasina said, “I have seen the horrors of war first-hand. We were held hostage and as refugees. Whenever I get a chance, I try to tell people from my own experience why I am against this war. Why can’t we solve everything peacefully?”

She also said Bangladesh has been able to find solutions to various issues through discussions with neighbouring countries.