Diplomatic Correspondent :
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Sunday said that the government had eradicated militancy from the soil of the country with the assistance of the law enforcers, especially Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
“If you go in the rural areas, you will hear that RAB is a brand name of peace. RAB is a brand name where you will get justice. RAB is a brand name for anti-terrorism activities. They work with all the risks of their lives,” he said.
While expressing remarks on the recent US report on Human Rights, the State Minister told this to the journalists at his office in the capital.
Criticising the US annual report, Shahriar said that the ‘report has many anomalies’ and the government will be asking the US government
for every point of the report to get reply.
About the role of RAB, he said, “RAB has been formed with the recommendation of different countries. This force has been strengthened with the training of different countries as well. We have been able to control militancy with minimum loss within a short time.”
“We are also working with the lapses committed by RAB. We are careful. We are looking for the solutions of such lapses. But if anyone tries to weaken this institution, we will not accept it in a good manner,” he added.
He also said that nobody should malign the institutions on which Bangladesh heavily depend.
About the rising incidents in Rohingya camps, he said, “The gun and drug trafficking have been increased there. Gradually it is turning into a safe haven for illicit trade. Rohingyas are being killed in infighting. Even Rohingya leader Mohibullah was killed in broad day light as he was working with his community people to take them back home.”
He further said, “There are around 1,000 Rohingya leaders in the camps. Our security forces are providing them safety and security.”
Quoting the LGBT rights in the US report, he said, “Such rights do not go with our culture, religion and social practice of our country.”
In reply to a query of Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen’s request to American government to bring Bangladesh Nationalist Party to election, he said, “We do not have national policy or decision as such. We do not invite any foreign country or institutions to intervene in our internal affairs.”
“Foreign minister can give more explanation about it. I don’t want to make any comment,” he continued.
Shahriar said that all the countries would assist Bangladesh as friends and their decisions would not hinder the progress of Bangladesh.
“With the level of engagement we have with US, we expect that they will share any draft with us first before preparing any report. They should also share the data with the government to get government’s version,” he added.
Citing the data of the US Human Rights report, the State Minister said, “The sources that that have quoted in the report have their clear political agenda.”
The report published on April 12 said about unlawful and arbitrary killings, extrajudicial killings; forced disappearance; torture or cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government or its agents on behalf of the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions.
The report also said about serious restrictions on free expression and media, violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, and censorship.
The 74-page report also mentioned of serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation.
