Terming sanctions on the RAB officials as unacceptable, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said however, it will have no impact on Bangladesh-US relationships.
“We have excellent ties with the United States. The USA has been helping us in development issues in various ways as the country (USA) is our development partner. Our security forces and law enforcers have been benefited for the technical association of the two countries in preventing militancy and terrorism as worldwide networks are needed to combat the terrorists and militants. But the sanctions on RAB officials imposed by the Department of Treasury of the USA is regrettable, unexpected, unacceptable and ineffective,” he told reporters.
The minister made the comments after unveiling the cover of the book ‘Ma o Shishu’, a special publication of the Press Information Department (PID) at its auditorium at the Secretariat here.
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain addressed the function as special guest with PID Principal Information Officer Shahenur Mia in the chair.
Hasan said the US ambassador was summoned and a strong protest was made on behalf of the government (Bangladesh). “I don’t know whether such incident of summoning the US ambassador took place previously in Bangladesh. It’s also a matter that whether imposing this embargo without prior contact was made as per diplomatic norms. We hope that our friendly country (USA) will be able to realize our sentiment,” he added.
The minister said the US has imposed such sanctions on different officials of different countries. But they didn’t impose any restrictions on any official of Israel which violates the human rights extremely and “We didn’t see them to impose embargo on the countries with which they have business and economic ties,” he added.
“We didn’t see any sanctions imposed by the USA on those countries, which have business and economic ties,” he added.
Replying to another query, he said the human rights have been violated extremely in the USA. They killed a man in broad daylight through extreme torture, which never happened in Bangladesh, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
He said the US security forces and law enforcers are immensely violating human rights and huge criticisms have been seen across the globe as death incidents took place in police custody in the United States, he added.
