On Monday, the White House firmly denied any involvement in the recent removal of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling the allegations “simply false.”

Sheikh Hasina, 76, stepped down from her position on August 5 after a student-led revolt against her administration. She subsequently sought refuge in India, a longtime ally.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the claims of U.S. interference during a press briefing. “We have had no involvement whatsoever,” she asserted. “Any reports or rumors suggesting that the U.S. government played a role in these events are false. This is a matter for the Bangladeshi people to decide, and we support their right to determine their own government.”

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Hasina’s son and a former adviser, had suggested that foreign forces might have supported the protests, though he did not provide any evidence for his claims. He speculated that the involvement was from outside Bangladesh and implied that only an intelligence agency could manage the logistics of arming protesters.

Earlier in May, Hasina had claimed that a foreign country, described as “white-skinned,” was conspiring against her government after being denied permission to establish an airbase. She alleged that this foreign interference was part of a broader conspiracy, though she did not specify which country was involved.

The United States has traditionally maintained a positive relationship with Bangladesh, with Hasina being viewed as a key ally in addressing shared concerns about Islamist extremism. However, Washington had expressed criticism over perceived undemocratic practices in Bangladesh and had previously imposed visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals accused of undermining elections.

Following Hasina’s departure, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of an interim government.