Hiren Pandit:
The new US government report has positively highlighted the role of RAB in controlling terrorism in Bangladesh. It has been said that the role of RAB has reduced terrorism in Bangladesh. The report was released by the US State Department last week, almost a week after the RAB and its seven former and current top officials were banned. In the context of Bangladesh, the report says, “Investigations and arrests related to terrorism have increased in Bangladesh in 2020 and terrorist activities have decreased.” Another part of the report states, Activities and arrests of suspected foreign terrorist fighters as well as counter-extremism and rehabilitation programs have been launched.
The report was released by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. According to the report, there were three specific terrorist attacks in Bangladesh in 2020. No one was killed in those attacks. In recent years, the Bangladeshi government has denied reports of significant links between local terrorists and international terrorist groups such as the Islamic State. According to the report, the Special Anti-Terrorism Tribunal has killed seven people in 2019 for helping in the attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in 2016. Their appeal is awaiting disposal in the High Court.
The report states that Bangladesh has cooperated with the United States in strengthening controls at borders and entrances. It further said that the international community is concerned about the security process at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. US-trained explosives detection team ready for security at Dhaka International Airport. But they have no permanent presence at the airport. The report mentions Bangladesh’s close cooperation with the International Police Organization. However, it is mentioned that there is no precautionary measure against terrorism in Bangladesh. But a week ago, the United States imposed more sanctions on the security forces of Bangladesh.
Analysts say the US sanctions on Bangladesh’s security forces are politically motivated and a despicable attempt to enslave and force Bangladesh to surrender. The United States has banned four people, including Bangladesh’s police chief and RAB’s DG. The complaint, extrajudicial killing. It is not new for US policy to involve the head of an organization when allegations are made against it. US sanctions against RAB and its officials are sad for Bangladesh. But any allegations about US sanctions against seven formers.
According to Human Rights Watch, in 2019, the United States began to lag in terms of rights. The inhumane immigration policy and the propaganda that perpetuates racism and discrimination; Did not do nearly enough to deal with mass captivity; Women’s rights have been curtailed. Official tracking of police violence remains incomplete. According to the Washington Post, police shot and killed 63 people in the United States in 2019. Of the dead, 20 percent were black, although blacks made up 13 percent of the population. The United States has continued to target suspected terrorists in all of these countries, including Yemen and Somalia, many with armed drones.
The courageous role of RAB in the development of law-and-order situations, suppression of militancy, prevention of human trafficking and fight against drugs has been appreciated. Not only the RAB but also the law enforcement agencies of all the countries have the opportunity to make good and bad complaints. But targeting an army in a country is not a good thing. The human rights situation is not one hundred percent correct not only in Bangladesh but also in any other country in the world. Whatever the allegations against the RAB, the US sanctions against former and current officers of the force are undesirable and unacceptable. To review the situation in one’s own country before questioning its human rights.
Bangladesh is an independent-sovereign state. Bangladesh wants to go its way from a neutral position. It wants to be strong in self-esteem and move forward with its head held high in the world assembly. The US is adopting one policy in the morning and another in the afternoon for their convenience. Analysts do not think the RAB will suffer much from the ban. A European country has banned arms exports. But the RAB did not have any problem. The RAB has many achievements in capturing many notorious criminals and in many successful operations. RAB has a good contribution in suppressing militancy and maintaining law and order in the country.
As many countries become economically self-sufficient, those weapons of the US are no longer working. So, they have chosen the issues of human rights, democracy and corruption. Together we must move forward. We have to carry out diplomatic activities. The US sanctions on Bangladesh’s security forces are motivated and a despicable attempt to force Bangladesh to surrender to slavery. The people of Bangladesh will resist these malicious motives.
The United States has previously tried to influence various countries through institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. So, they will try to do business on issues of human rights, democracy and corruption. This is nothing new. The United States has always imposed sanctions on any country or individual, whether it is against its interests or not. It is not uncommon for such messages to come from the United States, sometimes with allegations of corruption and sometimes with allegations of democracy.
One of the prerequisites for the development of a country is to maintain stability by keeping the internal law and order situation normal. The security forces are working tirelessly to ensure the overall security of the people of the country, suppress terrorism, protect human rights and establish the rule of law. The United States has an important role to play in the development of Bangladesh. Investment friendly environment is prevailing in Bangladesh. For this reason, many countries in the world, including the United States, have chosen Bangladesh for investment and business.
An anti-Bangladesh clique that seeks to impede the development of Bangladesh, to embarrass Bangladesh internationally, to disrupt mutually friendly cooperative relations – with the help of international lobbyists to provide false, misleading and fabricated information to cover up the real situation in Bangladesh and influence the US government Everyone’s idea is to be able to. Unfortunately, such a notice has been issued without giving any opportunity to defend oneself.
Amid sanctions row, the US secretary of state made a phone call to the Bangladesh foreign minister and expressed good wishes to the Bangladesh government when Mujib Year and 50 years of the country’s Victory Day. So, it can be assumed that the US can realize very well that it would finally be the loser if it adopts the path of conflict with Bangladesh. Always the diplomatic status and importance cannot be determined by the geographical size of a country. Now it would not be wise to offend Bangladesh and push it to another axis. In this situation, Bangladesh plays its role in creating pressure on the US through a diplomatic channel so that the latter finally comes to an understanding with Bangladesh.
The writer is Essayist and Research Fellow