BNP on Saturday described the US sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its seven current and former top officials as an inevitable consequence of serious violations of human rights.
“As per news published today (Saturday), sanctions have been imposed on Benazir Ahmed (current IGP) and the RAB chief. I don’t think it’s a surprise as I it’s an inevitable consequence,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a discussion, he also said those who violate human rights, snatch human rights and kill people have to face such a consequence.
The BNP leader said their party now wants to see whether the government takes action against those who are accused of violating human rights or remains silent as in the past.
Fakhrul said the US sanctions have also proved right what BNP has long been talking about the violations of human rights and killing and torturing of people by using the state machinery, including police and administration.
“What a shame it is that a country that likes the United States has imposed sanctions on our police and Rab chiefs. The reasons behind the sanctions are violation of human rights and unlawfully killing people and making many disappeared. They must be made accountable to people someday for such misdeeds.”
National People’s Party (NPP) arranged the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), demanding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s treatment abroad.
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.
Fakhrul said government officials and employees should remember that they are the servants of the state, not any individual or party. “It’s not their responsibility to do anything going beyond the constitution. Those who’re doing it will have to bear the consequences someday.”
Fakhrul said many people are siphoning off money abroad and making “second homes” in different countries, including Canada and Malaysia, by indulging in ‘plundering and corruption’. “They’ll also face the consequences and they won’t be able to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth as those will be confiscated.”
Fakhrul alleged that the government has put Bangladesh in an embarrassing situation as the USA did not invite the county to a virtual “Summit for Democracy held on Thursday hosted by Joe Biden.
He said the Awami League government is working in a planned way to establish a one-party rule by fully violating the constitution. “It’s the most grievous offence of the current government.”
The BNP leader alleged that the government has destroyed the political structure of the country by revoking the caretaker government system from the constitution by using the court.
Fakhrul said the ruling party leaders and ministers are indulging in widespread plundering and corruption as they have no accountability to people for lack of democracy.
He said Khaleda who has had immense contributions to the country and restoration of democracy in the country was convicted in “false cases’’ as part of a plot to eliminate her from politics.
The BNP leader said Khaleda is now seriously ill as she was not given proper treatment during her stay in jail. “She has now been pushed towards death by not allowing her to receive treatment. The government is doing so as it thinks there’ll remain no barrier to staying in power if Khaleda is eliminated. But it’s their wrong perception as BNP is getting organised under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.”
Fakhrul called upon all democratic political parties to get united putting aside divisions among them to wage a strong movement together with people for the restoration of democracy ousting the current ‘despotic’ regime thus paving the way for Khaleda’s treatment abroad.
Source: United News of Bangladesh