Bangladesh shocked by ‘unilateral’ U.S. sanctions on paramilitary unit

Rapid Action Battalion accused of human rights violations; move could have repercussions on other countries

Bangladesh reacted sharply to the U.S. Treasury’s decision to sanction a special military and police task force for alleged human rights violations. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen summoned U.S. Ambassador to Dhaka Earl Miller to protest the actions.

The decision by the U.S. to ban the Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), came as a shock to the Sheikh Hasina government, just days before its planned celebrations for the 50th anniversary of its Liberation Day, where President Ramnath Kovind will represent India.

“The Foreign Secretary [Mr. Momen] regretted that the U.S. decided to undermine an agency of the government that had been on the forefront of combating terrorism, drug trafficking and other heinous transnational crimes that were considered to be shared priorities with successive U.S. administrations,” a Bangladesh government statement said, adding that the sanctions had been made “unilaterally” and without any “prior intimation”.