Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed the government’s willingness to work closely with the US to find “ways and means” to waive sanctions on the RAB and its officials on a “priority basis”.
He showed interest while meeting US lawmakers in New York. The foreign minister also sought the US Congress to that end, according to the Bangladesh embassy in Washington.
The Foreign Minister paid a visit to New York from February 23 to March 2 to attend official meetings at the United Nations.
During this visit, he held meetings with Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) on 28 February and with Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA), the Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, on 01 March. Due to COVID-19 related protocols, both the meetings took place on virtual platform.
In his meetings with the US lawmakers, Foreign Minister Momen briefed them on the impressive socio-economic development that has taken place in Bangladesh under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The lawmakers highly appreciated Bangladesh's tremendous development under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Dr. Momen thankfully acknowledged the strong US humanitarian and political support to Bangladesh in dealing with the Rohingya crisis and sending COVID vaccines.
He requested the US lawmakers to persuade Myanmar in all possible ways to create a safe and secure environment in Rakhine State and take back all the forcibly displaced Rohingya people temporarily staying in Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.
The US lawmakers commended Bangladesh’s generosity in hosting this huge number of Rohingyas and said that they would continue their efforts in this regard.
Foreign Minister Momen underscored the importance of further expanding the trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and the United States, and deepening the excellent partnership in the coming days.
Expressing concern about the recent US sanctions on RAB and its seven current and former senior officials, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen informed the US lawmakers that Bangladesh had always shown its readiness to deal with specific allegations against RAB members.
He mentioned that RAB has emerged as the most efficient law enforcement agency in Bangladesh over the years, and has been at the forefront of combating terrorism, violent extremism, drug and human trafficking, and other transnational crimes.r. Momen invited both the lawmakers to visit Bangladesh, along with congressional delegations, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and the United States.
