Bangladesh Must Respect Democratic Principles: Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Bangladesh to respect democratic principles on Tuesday after Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed to lead an interim government following an uprising.

"Any decisions by the interim government must uphold democratic principles, adhere to the rule of law, and reflect the will of the people," Blinken stated during a press conference.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who recently visited Bangladesh and met with Blinken, echoed his sentiments and urged all parties to avoid violence.

"We call on all parties to de-escalate and respect universal rights. We also urge a full, independent, and impartial investigation into the recent events," Wong said following their discussions at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.