BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said seeking India’s help to withdraw the US sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is a manifestation of the government’s knee-jerk foreign policy.
“The United States imposed sanctions on (RAB) for human rights violation by this government. It was most needed to dismiss the officials involved in the misdeeds and take legal action against them,” he told an iftar party.
Instead of doing that, the BNP leader bemoaned that the foreign minister said they sought India’s help in this regard.
“How failed and subservient this government is that it is now seeking India’s help instead of taking action against the institution that indulged in misdeeds,” Fakhrul said.
Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal arranged the programme at Dhaka Ladies Club in the city’s Eskaton area.
Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh sought India’s support to withdraw the US sanctions imposed on elite force RAB and individuals.
“We sought their help after the US imposed sanctions on Rab. They’ve been very nice to us. They (Indian side) said they would raise it,” Momen told reporters at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas said there is no scope for repeal of sanctions against the RAB without concrete action and accountability.
Referring to the recent clashes between Dhaka College students and businessmen in the New Market area, Fakhrul said it has been proved that Chhatra League was involved in the violence.
“But no action has been taken against the Chhatra League leaders involved in the clashes. Rather, false cases were filed against BNP leaders and activists and they were arrested.”
At the programme, some family members of the BNP leaders who were reportedly made enforced disappearance were given Eid gifts on behalf of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Source: United News of Bangladesh