POBNEWS24, Dhaka May 17, 2024 : The State Department and the White House are working to lift the ban on RAB – The United States has rejected this claim by Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F. Rahman as false.
Deputy Spokesperson Vedanta Patel made a strong stand for the ban at the State Department’s regular briefing on Thursday.
A journalist who participated in the briefing wants to know – After a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu, who is visiting Bangladesh, the Industry and Investment Advisor of the ruling Prime Minister told reporters, “The White House and the State Department are working to lift the ban on RAB.” The Justice Department has been notified and is in the process.” What is the truth of such a claim? The United States has imposed sanctions on Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for alleged involvement in gross human rights violations and extrajudicial killings.
In response, Vedanta Patel said, “Such a claim is completely false. The US is not lifting the ban on the Rapid Action Battalion, he clarified, adding, “These claims are false. Sanctions are imposed to change behavior and ensure accountability.
Incidentally, after a meeting with Assistant US Secretary of State Donald Lu, who is visiting Bangladesh on Tuesday night, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Private Industry and Investment Salman F. Rahman told reporters, “The Justice Department has been asked by the White House to lift the ban on RAB.”
Salman F Rahman told reporters, “We have talked about lifting the ban on RAB and returning Bangabandhu’s killer Rashid Chowdhury. Donald Lu told us that both of these matters are in their Justice Department. Their Justice Department is independent. They said, it is pushing, supporting. Donald Lu said the Justice Department has been told by the White House to lift the ban on RAB.”
However, during a two-hour discussion at Salman F Rahman’s residence, the matter of lifting the RAB sanction was discussed, according to the MOFA source.
