Shafiqul Islam (Jami)
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen believes that US sanctions on RAB and its former and current officials will have no effect on bilateral relations. Responding to a question at a press conference on the occasion of Indian President Ramnath Kovind’s visit to Dhaka on Tuesday (December 14), he said, “We believe it will not have any effect.” However, he acknowledged that the sanctions of US is very unfortunate. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gives us duty and we will give its answer after discussion. It would not be right to answer in such a hurry. The cabinet secretary said on Monday (December 13) that the foreign minister, home minister and law minister would look into the matter.
The Foreign Minister said that according to US data, their police kill and shoot thousands of people every year. That is, extrajudicial killings and one or two deaths in our rare cases. He said six million people go missing in the United States every year and the US report says 600 people have gone missing in Bangladesh in 10 years. Where six lakhs and where six hundred?
Abdul Momen said that the media does not bother much about the deaths of so many people in America. Because they think, the police authorities have worked on their line of duty. I have never heard of anyone being punished by the police for the six million people who went missing or died in America.
The minister said the agency that has been banned is playing a leading role in the United States’ global policy on counter-terrorism. Not just terrorism, but drug trafficking is another big issue in the United States. They are helping the Americans in that too. RAB is not corrupt and they cannot be used for money. As a result, they have gained the confidence of the people of Bangladesh.
Stating that relations with the United States are very good, he said that the decision was taken at the instigation of some people, without any discussion, based on false information of some organizations and NGOs. But we will discuss it with them.
Abdul Momen added that American’s all decisions are not right. We will discuss and hopefully, there are mature people in that country, there are wise people and they will change their position.
