Staff Reporter :
The government is desperately trying for the participation of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed, who is now under US sanction, in the third United Nations Chief of Police Summit at the UN Headquarters.
A government order (GO) signed by the Home Ministry in the name of the IGP had been issued on Thursday in order to proceed with the necessary steps for visa application.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Monday said that any invited person
by the United Nations can enter US despite having sanction on the individual and US cannot make any impediments here as per agreement between UN and US.
“There’s an agreement in this regard. Let’s see what happens. If there is no such troubles, he can participate in the summit. If any problem springs up, we will try to know it before hand,” he added.
According to Section 11 of Article IV of the UN and US treaty, “the federal, state or local authorities of the United Nations shall not impose any impediments to transit to or from the headquarters district of (5) other persons invited to the headquarters district by the United Nations or by such specialised agency on official visit.”
In reply to another query whether any person under sanction can visit America, Foreign Secretary said, “There is a gentleman agreement or convention. We have seen some exceptions in the past. We cannot say anything before hand until it happens.”
Responding to another question if it was a green signal of the government for sending IGP to US, he said, “As a GO order has been issued, he has plan to visit.”
About his meeting in the Foreign Service Academy with US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organisation Affairs at the US Department of State Michele J Sison, the Foreign Secretary said they have talked about the sanctions on the RAB, Digital Security Act and other issues.
“They said that the withdrawal of sanction is a legal process. The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions. The US Foreign Department has no involvement there. We said that we want to follow their process. We are engaged with them and trying to withdraw the sanction,” Momen said.
The Foreign Secretary also mentioned that they have informed the US representative the corrective measures, if any, about the misuse of Digital Security Act on the issue of Human Rights.
He also that the US government want to assist the Rohingya staying in the Bhasan Char and Bangladesh has sought US cooperation in the case of International Court of Justice on Rohingya genocide case.
On December 10, 2021, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on RAB, as well as seven of its current and former officers due to serious human rights violations.
Since then Bangladesh has been trying to withdraw the sanctions but still there is little progress because the US government has made it clear that it is a critical issue and will take time.
Amid this situation, the IGP has got an invitation from the UN to participate in the Summit. Home Ministry sources said that Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan will lead a six-member Bangladesh delegation to the summit from August 31 to September 1.
