Days after clarifying that the US does not want to sanction Bangladesh, influential US Congressman and Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Gregory W Meeks has now said he does not believe believe wholesale action on the country are necessitated.
“I believe sanctions can be most useful when they are targeted and don’t believe wholesale sanctions on Bangladesh are currently warranted," he said in a statement on Friday.
Nevertheless, the Congressman argued that he supports the Biden Administration’s designation of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and several of its current and former members under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act for human rights violations.
"I continue to support the strengthening of the US-Bangladesh relationship and look forward to working to help address human rights and democracy challenges in the country, including ensuring that the country’s next elections are free and fair,” he said.
The US recently imposed sanctions on RAB and its top officials, alleging them of being involved in widespread human rights violations including enforced disappearances, a claim Bangladesh has categorically denied.
On January 31, Meeks stated that the US does not want to impose any sanctions on Bangladesh as there is an excellent relationship between the two nations.
"We want to make sure we aren’t (imposing any sanctions) against Bangladesh and we’re still working with the government and people of Bangladesh," he said.
