American economist and public policy expert Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs of Columbia University has presented compelling evidence suggesting U.S. involvement in orchestrating a coup in Bangladesh—alongside similar allegations regarding Pakistan’s former government .In a notable commentary published on August 19—just two weeks after student-led anti-quota protests supported by Jamaat-backed militants overthrew the Sheikh Hasina government—Prof. Sachs highlighted a coordinated strategy employing covert “deep state” actors to facilitate regime change .This pattern mirrors events in Pakistan. On March 7, 2022, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Donald Lu, met with Pakistan’s Ambassador to the U.S., Asad Majeed Khan, reportedly warning that Prime Minister Imran Khan, due to his “aggressively neutral position” on Russia and Ukraine, risked international isolation. The State Department official allegedly suggested that if a no-confidence motion succeeded, relations between the U.S. and Pakistan would improve. One day later, the Pakistani parliament initiated the process to oust Khan; by April 10, he was removed from office—an outcome Sachs says confirms U.S. influence via leaked diplomatic cables .Prof. Sachs argues that Bangladesh’s events followed a similar playbook. He notes that military unrest and student demonstrations facilitated Hasina’s ouster, prompting her to seek refuge in India. Indian media reports suggest that she attributes the coup to U.S. designs, triggered by her refusal to allow American military facilities on Bangladeshi soil as part of its Indo‑Pacific containment strategy against China .In mid‑May 2024, Donald Lu visited Dhaka to discuss strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. Shortly afterward, Sheikh Hasina reportedly warned political allies that “a country of white-skinned people” was undermining Bangladesh’s sovereignty after her resistance to U.S. requests .Hasina’s reluctance went beyond rhetoric—Bangladesh delayed signing two critical military pacts championed by the U.S., including the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), which would have deepened military cooperation .According to Sachs, the U.S. has a long history—say 64 covert regime-change operations between 1947 and 1989—of undermining foreign governments . He contends that these modern interventions are equally clandestine and illegal under international law.To counteract this trend, Prof. Sachs urges the United Nations—particularly the Security Council—to launch an inquiry into the alleged U.S. manipulations in both Pakistan and Bangladesh . He suggests hearing testimonies from Imran Khan and Sheikh Hasina (potentially via video link given current circumstances), with protections to shield them from retaliation .In the case of a Security Council veto, Sachs recommends that the UN General Assembly pick up the investigation under Resolution A/RES/76, enabling a full, impartial global review .
