The US sanctions on RAB and the international community’s voice against human rights violations in Bangladesh have helped rejuvenate the BNP rank and file to take to the streets fearlessly, as reflected in its recent rallies, according to the opposition party’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He also said that the law enforcement forces are not as aggressive towards the BNP's programs as they were in the past because it is a universal practice that civil and military bureaucrats do not stand against the people when they put up resistance with just demands. In an interview with UNB this week, Fakhrul talked about many other issues, including BNP’s plans for the simultaneous movement, the Dhaka rally on December 10, the Election Commission, the next general election, the proposed national government, and its relations with Jamaat and India. This is the first part of the interview. Read more: Huge crowds in BNP rally mean they want democracy back, says Mirza Fakhrul “When the government was continuing all misdeeds at an unstoppable pace without facing any resistance and a loud voice from inside and outside the country, the US sanctions on RAB naturally instilled new hope in the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh. It has also inspired BNP,” he said. The BNP leader also said their party leaders and activists got a message through the sanctions that the democracy-loving international community would no longer accept such activities, especially the incidents of human rights violations. “The US in its reports was voicing concerns over Bangladesh’s human rights situation for several years. But this time they not only raised their voices against human rights violations, but also they acted (through the sanctions). It’s undoubtedly encouraged us greatly. On the other hand, the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michele Bachelet to Bangladesh and her subsequent statements on the issue definitely inspired us,” he observed. Read more: BNP MPs ready to resign; Govt must go for credible election: Fakhrul

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today noted that the number of extrajudicial killings has significantly gone down since the US sanctions imposed last December on RAB. He saw this “as a good sign”. The US ambassador made the remarks at “Meet the Ambassador” event organised by Center for Governance Studies and German think tank Friedrich Ebert Stiftung at a Dhaka hotel. Read:Momen in NY: No specific info given by US on Rab sanctions Political parties, academics and former diplomats were present at the event. Haas said the sanctions imposed by the US against RAB and seven of its former and current officials were not intended to punish them but to change the behaviour and hold them accountable. Responding to a question, the US ambassador said there has been no change in their policy and the sanctions are still in place.  Sanctions will remain until there is accountability and reform, he said.  “We are looking for accountability for past incidents,” said the US ambassador.  Haas also said that peaceful and fair elections are not possible if there is violence. He laid emphasis on free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh and expressed concerns over the recent political violence. Talking further on elections, he said, “I keep saying free, fair and transparent elections in accordance with international standards. I’m happy to add inclusive to it.” The US ambassador touched upon various aspects of Bangladesh-US relations, including trade, labour rights, regional and global politics, and Indo-Pacific strategy. Read:US sanctions outcome of USD 100 million project: IGP Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in terms of workplace safety in the export-oriented industries, he said, adding that the US still has concerns in the area of labour rights. Zillur Rahman, Executive Director of Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), moderated the session.

Bangladesh will appoint certified lawyers in the United States to pursue the withdrawal of sanctions imposed on the elite force Rapid Action Battalion (Rab). “We’re in the process of appointing legal assistance in the US,” Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said this week, noting that it is a legal process, not an administrative one. As Bangladeshi lawyers will not be able to do the job, it will have to be done by the certified lawyers in the US, he said, adding that some initial legal steps have been taken already. The foreign secretary said the process is different in dealing with the sanctions on individuals and Rab as an institution. Read: No defence procurement from US now; signing GSOMIA to take time: FS He recently visited the United States and accompanied Foreign Minister  AK Abdul Momen at the bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the US State Department on April 4. Masud also led the Bangladesh delegation at the 8th Bangladesh-US Security Dialogue held in Washington. Bangladesh sought resumption of training and capacity building programmes for its law enforcement agencies in any format.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government is currying favour with foreigners to save itself from its own "misdeeds" "Awami League has been there in power by committing all misdeeds and now it’s trying to appease the foreigners for survival," he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said the government has got unnerved as its various misdeeds are getting exposed to the global community while the US imposed sanctions on the Rab and its some current and former officials. Read: FM’s comment on election proves AL seeks foreigners’ favour  “That’s why they’re now currying favours with foreigners in this way,” he observed. BNP arranged the programme at a city hotel marking the World Health Day that is being observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe. Referring to the Bangladesh Foreign Minister's recent meeting with the US Secretary of State, Fakhrul said the government is now running after the US as the national election is nearing. “They’re going to the US and telling their Secretary of State to help them to bring BNP to the polls…but these people used to say whether we seek favour from foreigners and work with their help. Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed his US counterpart Antony Blinken about Bangladesh’s “transparent and independent” election commission apparently suggesting him to encourage BNP to take part in the election process. “Bring them (BNP) to the election process to follow the rules and procedures of the country,” he told Blinken during their bilateral meeting at the US Department of State. Fakhrul said it is regrettable that the basic rights of the country’s people are not ensured even after 50 years of independence. Read: BNP leader Ishraque Hossain held in Dhaka He said the country’s health sector has been completely destroyed due to widespread corruption by the government. “This government has no accountability to the people since it is not elected by people. Whenever Awami came to power it betrayed people, “the BNP leader said. He said the main goal of the current government is to make money by indulging in corruption. “They’ve made money in the name of corona tests and treatment at different hospitals and clinics. We saw that vaccines were brought from India at three-four times higher prices to benefit a person. The entire health system has been ruined only to benefit government-backed people,” Fakhrul alleged.

Senior treasury bench member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim on Thursday harshly criticised the US for what he said imposing sanctions on eight former and current officials of the elite force RAB 'intentionally' without any evidence. Participating in the general discussion on a thanksgiving motion on the president's speech, he also said the US police should be banned for gunning down a huge number of people every year unlawfully. Selim said BNP, founded by Ziaur Rahman comprising the anti-liberation and the defeated force of 1971, cannot accept Bangladesh in any way even after 50 years of its independence. “They (BNP) carry out false propaganda against Bangladesh abroad. The US has imposed sanctions intentionally on the eight officials of Bangladesh’s smart law enforcement agency RAB, but it (US) can’t show any evidence,” he said. The veteran politician claimed that no one has been killed by Rab unnecessarily and there is no such evidence. “RAB perhaps opened fire in self-defense when they came under attack.” He said the US used to raise its voice in favour of human rights and speaks against extrajudicial killings. “But many people have been subjected to extrajudicial killings by the police in the US.” Between 2013 and 2019, Selim said around 7,000 people were killed by the US police and no trial was held for those incidents. Read: ACC files graft case against 3 Krishi Bank officials and two others Referring to a report of the Washington Post newspaper, he said the US police shot dead 1,028 people only in 2019. “The US police should be banned for killing people unlawfully without any trial. After that they should look at others.” Selim also said the US always takes positions in favour of criminals, not in favour of the victims. He recalled the US role in favour of Pakistanis who carried out the mass killing of Bengalese in 1971. The senior MP also alleged that the US has taken a position in favour of the dastard killings of Bangabandhu along with many women and children on August 15, 1975. “They did not even put any killers on the black lists. They rather supported the government of killers Mushtaq and Ziaur Rahman.” He also said Rashed Chowdhury, one of the killers of Bangabandhu, has still been staying in the USA and they are not handing him over to Bangladesh despite repeated requests. “This is your (US) politics. The type of your democracy and human rights will one day get exposed before the world community.” The senior Awami League leader said the evil force of BNP and Jamaat has been conspiring against the country by appointing lobbyists. He said BNP leaders have become very cheerful following the US sanctions on the RAB officials. “Why have you become so happy when anything bad happens to Bangladesh? I want to make you remember that the US banned your leader Tarique Zia on November 3, 2008…Tarique Zia will never be able to go to the USA. See your own face in the mirror.”

BNP on Wednesday feared that the US sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its seven current and former top officials may have a negative impact on the deployment of peacekeepers from Bangladesh in UN peacekeeping missions. “As Bangladesh has been identified as a big human rights violator by a superpower through the sanctions, it may influence the deployment in the UN peacekeeping missions in the future. It may also have a negative impact on our defence forces and law enforcers,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said the sanctions on one of the major law enforcement agencies of the country that exports RMG and other products, manpower and security service will have far-reaching impacts. “It’ll also send out a wrong message to the world about our country and citizens which may disrupt foreign investment, economic assistance, and day-to-day cooperation. In particular, the image of Bangladesh will be dented severely to the international organisations, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and to the peace-loving countries,” the BNP leader opined. Read: Khaleda’s treatment abroad: BNP’s rallies in 32 districts from Dec 22 He said there is no scope to deny that the US sanctions on allegations of 'grave human rights violations are strong messages from the global community to the current “anti-mass” and “anti-humanitarian” regime that the culture of impunity cannot continue in a democratic country. “Such human rights are violated only under the rule of an undemocratic and authoritarian government…BNP thinks the government must shoulder all the responsibilities for the US sanctions on RAB. They (gov) are responsible for unlawfully using the law enforcement agencies to cement their power,” the BNP leader said. He turned down the ruling party leader’s allegations that the BNP has hired lobbyists to impose the sanctions on the RAB and its officials, saying the government is now trying to shift the blame onto others after being identified as a human rights violator. Fakhrul said there is no reason for the country’s people to be confused with the ruling party leaders’ such comments. “We don't run RAB. It’s the government that runs RAB and instructs them to carry out different acts. We’ve nothing to do here.” He alleged that the Awami League government has forced the RAB to be a part of various anti-law cultures to perpetuate its undemocratic rule. “No institution of Bangladesh can be held responsible for such a functioning of a political government.” The BNP leader, however, said those who have already played a role in introducing various forms of extra-judicial culture in order to protect the power of an “illegitimate” government must be brought to justice. “As the government employees, the officials of police and other military and civilian forces of the state should be held accountable. It should not be forgotten that the Awami League is fully responsible for the US sanctions,” he said. Sanctions “actually on govt” Fakhrul said the US sanctions were extremely embarrassing and worrying, but such a move was inevitable. “The current government has been using the law enforcers in carrying out extrajudicial killings for almost a decade and reports on it were published by the US and different other countries and organisations. But such crimes have been encouraged by repeatedly rejecting the reports by Bangladesh. In fact, the US sanctions are the result of the government's denial of extrajudicial killings,” he observed. The BNP leader said the government has used the law enforcement agencies, including RAB, nakedly to continue the culture of election without voting and looting votes at the night before the voting day. “So, the government is responsible for the allegations raised against RAB, and the sanctions against RAB are tantamount to sanctions on the current government.” Position on dialogue over EC not clear Sought his comment about President Abdul Hamid’s talks with registered political parties on the reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), Fakhrul said they do not know anything about it. Asked whether they will join the talks if they get an invitation, he parried the question saying they will talk about it later. “The accountability to people is hampered at every step in a country that lacks democracy and which is now existing everywhere now in Bangladesh,” the BNP leader observed. Under the circumstances, he said, it is now imperative to clear the way for holding a credible national election under a neutral government for establishing people's right to vote. Read: Khaleda’s condition worsens again in hospital: Fakhrul Asked whether the US sanctions will affect the next national election, Fakhrul said it will happen if the election is held under a neutral government in a fair and credible manner. The United States on Friday imposed human rights-related sanctions on Benzir Ahmed, current Inspector General of the Bangladesh Police and former Director General of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and six other individuals on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. The US Department of State announced visa restrictions on Benazir Ahmed, which it says, due to his “involvement in gross violations of human rights” making him ineligible for entry into the United States. RAB as an entity, Benzir Ahmed, and six other officials were designated by the Department of the Treasury under the Global Magnitsky sanctions programme in connection with serious human rights abuse, said the US Department of State.

The US sanctions on the IGP and six Rab officiala have been politically motivated, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Sunday adding that the decision will inspire terrorism and militancy. At a briefing at his office in the Secretariat this morning Quader said Rab as an elite force has been professional in discharge of its work. He recalled the contriversial US role during Bangladesh liberation war in 1971 and after assassinaton of Bangabandhu in 1975. Yet Bangladesh did not allow these issues to stand on way of establishing friendly relations with Washington, he said. Also read: Sanctions on Rab: Law Minister calls it ‘unfortunate’ He said the US move has hurt Bangladesh when it is celebrating 50 years of its indepence.. The two countries are working from their respective positions on multilateral issues including bilateral and common issues, he said. Quader said that the Anti-Corruption Commission is playing an independent role in carrying out any investigation but it is unreasonable to impose sanctions on a force chief and former officers by making baseless allegations. Speaking about human rights, the Awami League general secretary also said that such a decision is a kind of violation of human rights. He urged them to first look into the human rights situation in their country first. Obaidul Quader said that the death of George Floyd had shaken the whole world which raised the question about the human rights issue of the US administration. Obaidul Quader said hat the UN itself had expressed concern over the issue of discrimination and oppression of blacks. "Where millions of people die each year in gun attacks, the world has witnessed the tragic deaths of five people trying to seize Capital Hill after losing an election. The world has seen the face of American democracy and the face of their human rights," he also added. Obaidul Quader said that Amnesty International had repeatedly pointed out the weakness of the United States in its indicators of internal democracy and protection of human rights. Some of Bangabandhu's assassins are still hiding in America, war criminals have also fled there, said Awami League general secretary Robert Reich, a former US senator of Labor said in a tweet that US law enforcement 984 there have been 8,800 extrajudicial killings by US law enforcement and about 1,000 people die without trial every year, according to various sources. He said any comment on human rights is not acceptable where ordinary people take to the streets in different cities to protest against extrajudicial killings day after day. Quader said, "We are sure that some anti-Bangladesh people and evil forces may have political motives behid the decision." Obaidul Quader said that the people of the country think that their ban on a security force of Bangladesh is political and a despicable attempt to force Bangladesh to surrender to their state of slavery. Also read: Sanctions on RAB: FM says impact on relations depends on US Noting that no conspiracy against the people of Bangladesh created through the great liberation war has worked in the past, he added that Bangladesh has turned from a vacuum despite various international conspiracies. In Palestine, when Israel indiscriminately destroys hundreds of homes, including helpless women and innocent children, by dropping missiles and violating human rights, US foreign policy is in favor of Israel, not even uttering a word. He added that those responsible for the deaths and displacement of people in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Yemen are giving the world a sense of human rights today. Citing mutual trust and confidence as the basis of our friendly relations with the United States, Quader said Bangladesh hoped that the US administration would be more informed and careful in making decisions to advance the existing relationship between the people of the two countries. He further added that there is an opportunity for any issue to be resolved through dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh has already summoned the US ambassador to express its anger and dissatisfaction, he hoped. "We believe that the US administration will move away from this irrational and one-sided decision," he also hoped.