Tulsi Gabbard, the US National Intelligence Director, currently on a three-day visit to India, condemned Bangladesh on March 17 for the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in the country. She stressed that the “unfortunate persecution, killings, and abuse” of religious minorities such as Hindus remain a significant concern for the US government, with President Trump and his administration actively addressing the issue.
#Watch: "Persecution of minorities in Bangladesh a long-standing concern; Islamist terrorism a major cause of concern for President Trump" : US Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) exclusively speaks to NDTV's Vishnu Som (@VishnuNDTV)#NDTVExclusive pic.twitter.com/FGyOeghHM6
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 17, 2025
Gabbard specifically pointed out the “persecution and killings” of religious minorities in Bangladesh, emphasising that the threat posed by Islamic terrorists in the country is deeply rooted in their “ideology and objective” to establish and govern under an Islamist caliphate.
She also highlighted that President Trump’s administration has initiated discussions with Bangladesh’s interim government regarding the issue. She stated, “The talks are just beginning between President Trump’s new cabinet and the Government of Bangladesh, but this issue remains a central focus of concern.”
In her remarks she spoke about the ideology of an “Islamic Caliphate” and how extremist elements and terror groups globally aim for such an outcome. “The threat of Islamist terrorists and the global efforts of various terror groups are rooted in the same ideology and objective — to rule or govern through an Islamist Caliphate,” she stated. She added that this ideology targets people of any religion other than the one they deem acceptable, often employing terror and extreme violence to achieve their goals.
Gabbard emphasised that President Donald Trump is committed to identifying and defeating this ideology, focusing on ending the rise of what he refers to as “radical Islamic terrorism.” She further asserted, “President Trump remains dedicated to identifying the ideology that drives Islamist terrorism and working to defeat both this ideology and the capacity of terror groups to inflict harm on people.”
In addition to the violence and religious persecution in Bangladesh, its increasing cooperation with Pakistan’s notorious ISI has become a significant concern over the past two months.
Gabbard’s remarks sparked a response from Bangladesh, with the interim government of Professor Muhammad Yunus denying the allegations of minority persecution. They claimed that her comments were “not based on any evidence or specific allegations.”
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