Bangladesh
RAB | USA US sanctions on RAB and seven of its officials
Dhaka, December 11: The United States has imposed sanctions on Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and seven former and current officers of the force, alleging "grave human rights violations". Among them is former RAB Director General (DG) and current Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed.
The US Treasury Department on Friday (December 10th) announced sanctions against 15 individuals and 10 organizations in different countries on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. The names of RAB and its six officers are mentioned. On the other hand, another Foreign Office statement named Benazir as well as another official.
According to a statement on the US Department of the Treasury's website, the list includes Benazir Ahmed, RAB's current Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Additional Director General (Operations) Khan Mohammad Azad, former Additional Director General (Operations) Tofail Mostafa Sarwar, former Additional Director General (Operations). ) Md. Jahangir Alam and former Additional Director General (Operations) Md. Anwar Latif Khan.
The State Department statement named Benazir as well as former RAB-7 commander (Lieutenant Colonel) Miftah Uddin Ahmed.
During the anti-drug campaign in 2018, Ekramul Haque, a municipal councilor of Teknaf in Cox's Bazar and former president of the Upazila Juba League, was accused of being involved in the 'abduction and murder'. The statement said that as a result of the ban, Bangladesh's top police officers Benazir and Miftah would no longer be able to enter the United States.
Wally Adeyemo, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, said the ban also applies to the United Kingdom and Canada. He said the move was a message to those who would abuse state power to carry out oppression that democracy around the world would speak out against the oppressors.
