Congressman Meeks supports US sanctions on RAB, wants fair polls

Congressman Meeks supports US sanctions on RAB, wants fair polls Photo: NBC

M Mushfiqul Fazal

US Congressman and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign relations Gregory W Meeks certainly supports the Biden Administration’s designation of the Rapid Action Battalion and several of its members under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act for human rights violation.

Besides, the US Congressman wants to find ways to work together to address human rights and democracy challenges in the country, including ensuring that the country’s next elections are free and fair.

A committee aide for the House Foreign Relations Committee said this to clarify the congressman’s position on US’s sanctions against RAB and its officials, Human Rights and Election. Meeks gave a speech at a fundraising event held in New York on Monday.

Some Bangladeshi media have published misleading reports regarding Meeks’ remarks referring to the Bangladesh embassy in Washington as they issued a press release in an unprecedented way.

 

In reply to a query from Just News on this issue, the committee aide said, “The chairman certainly supports the Biden Administration designation of the Rapid Action Battalion and several of its members under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act for human rights violation, while also making clear there is currently no embargo or sanction of the country as a whole.”

The aide further said, “He (Meeks) remains a strong supporter of a growing US-Bangladesh relationship and wants to find ways to work together to address human rights and democracy challenges in the country, including ensuring that the country’s next elections are free and fair.”

Earlier, referring to the Congressman’s speech the Bangladesh embassy release said, “The US Congressman said that a vested quarter from inside and outside Bangladesh is strongly lobbying for imposing sanctions against more officials and the politicians as well.” 

NL/