Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that the government of Bangladesh has taken a zero tolerance policy on combating corruption and will continue to work with the United States on this issue.
“For combating corruption, we are working with the US. We want to work together and will continue to do that," he told reporters.
Hasan was speaking at a “meet the reporters” programme on Tuesday organised by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
DRU President Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo and General Secretary Mohiuddin also spoke at the event.
Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister said the US decision against former army Chief General Aziz Ahmed was not under the visa policy.
It was made under Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh remains engaged with the US and the two countries are working together on combating terrorism, human trafficking and other issues.
He said the decision regarding the ex-army chief was first conveyed to the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington.
The US Department of State on Monday announced the public designation of General Aziz Ahmed, previously Chief of the Bangladesh Army Staff, due to what it says was his involvement in "significant corruption".
This action renders Aziz and his immediate family members generally ineligible for entering the United States.
His actions have contributed to the undermining of Bangladesh’s democratic institutions and the public’s faith in public institutions and processes, the US State Department said.
"Aziz Ahmed engaged in significant corruption by interfering in public processes while helping his brother evade accountability for criminal activity in Bangladesh," said the US Department of State.
Aziz also worked closely with his brother to ensure the improper awarding of military contracts and accepted bribes in exchange for government appointments for his personal benefit, it claimed.
"This designation reaffirms the US commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and rule of law in Bangladesh," said the US government.
Someone “paid by BNP” is deployed at US State Dept briefings
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said there is someone “paid by BNP,” deployed in the US Department of State regular briefing, to ask questions purposefully for generating negative response.
"There’s someone there who used to work for Khaleda Zia's press wing. He is paid by BNP. He asks questions purposefully to try and get negative answers about Bangladesh. He asks questions intentionally," the minister told reporters at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
The Foreign Minister was referring to Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, former assistant press secretary to the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Hasan made the remarks when his attention was drawn to him being misquoted at the latest US State Department briefing.
"Is the US considering reinstating the GSP facilities for Bangladeshi product, as Bangladeshi foreign minister told the on Saturday, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu assured Washington would consider reinstating the GSP facilities for Bangladesh?" Ansarey's question reads.
On the GSP issue, the foreign minister actually said the US wants to help Bangladesh get it back when the program is reintroduced.
"I talked to the press based on facts and what is true," Hasan said, adding that Bangladesh and the US are working on the labour front to further improve the overall conditions in line with the US desire, and they want to give it back if the US reintroduces the GSP facility.
"After the meeting with the visiting Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, Bangladesh’s ruling prime minister advisor told the reporters that White House and the State Departments are very much willing to remove the sanctions as U.S. imposed sanction on RAB, Rapid Action Battalion, for the extreme violation of human rights and extrajudicial killing. So he said that the State Department and White House working to remove the sanctions," Ansarey said in another media briefing.
DRU President Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo and General Secretary Mohiuddin also spoke at the event.
