The United States has denied playing any role in the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid the unrest in the neighbouring country. Denying such reports, the White House said the allegations were "simply false".
"We have had no involvement at all. Any reports or rumours that the United States government was involved in these events is simply false," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing when asked about reported claims of U.S. involvement, reported Reuters.
Media reports, citing Hasina, had suggested earlier that she accused the US of playing a role in ousting her because it wanted control over Bangladesh's Saint Martin island in the Bay of Bengal.
It was reported that the message was conveyed through her close associates.
Hasina's on, Sajeeb Wazed refuted the report saying she never made any such statement.
"We believe that the Bangladeshi people should determine the future of the Bangladeshi government and that's where we stand," the White House added.
US Department of State also dismissed any such implications as "absolutely" false.
"...Any implication that the United States was involved in Sheikh Hasina's resignation is absolutely false," Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State said.
We have seen a lot of disinformation in recent weeks and we were made incredibly committed to strengthening information, and integrity across the regional ecosystem, especially our partners in South Asia," he added.
Following Hasina's ouster, an interim government was formed in Bangladesh with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as its head. He was sworn in on Thursday with the aim of holding elections in the country.