POBNEWS24,Dhaka Dec 28, 2021: The United States is going to strictly enforce the ‘Lehi Act’ on allegations of human rights violations all over the world, including Bangladesh. As part of this, an agreement must be reached with the United States on the condition that the country interested in receiving assistance from the United States is informed where the money received is spent. This rule will be effective from next Saturday, the first day of 2022. This information was given in the notification of the United States Department of Defense.
According to the statement, the interested countries will have to be informed by next Friday whether they are willing to sign the agreement with the United States. Assurances must be given that US grants or assistance will not reach any organization, force or unit that is banned in the United States.
Official sources in Dhaka say Bangladesh does not want bitter relations with the United States over the imposition of sanctions on the RAB. For this reason, Bangladesh has agreed to the agreement. The matter could be finalized through an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday. Attempts are being made to inform the United States of Bangladesh’s decision before the deadline.
An official, who did not want to be named, told Kaler Kanth that Bangladesh has nothing to worry about. But to get help, you have to look at human rights. The United States is trying to make sure that where the money is, how it is being used, and how that money does not fall into the hands of human rights violators.
Concerned parties say the law could have a major impact on aid and grants, mainly in the military and security sectors. Because in many countries of the world, there are allegations of human rights violations against the security forces. The U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion and its seven former and current top officials on December 10 under the country’s Global Magnitsky Act.
In 2016, the United States declared the investigation branch of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTCU) of the RAB of Bangladesh and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police not eligible for US grants or assistance under the Lehi Act.
