US sanction on RAB is one-sided: Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said US sanction on some incumbent and ex-officials of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) are one-sided and politically-motivated.

"We're shocked and saddened because of such decision of the United States as it has come at a time when Bangladesh is celebrating the golden jubilee of its independence," said Quader.

He said this decision of the United States would provoke militancy and terrorism in the country, he added.

Lauding the role of the RAB in curbing crimes in the country, Quader said RAB is working as an elite force with utmost professionalism in uprooting the militancy from the country.

He said none of this force is above the law. At least seven members of RAB were sentenced to death in the Narayanganj murder incident.

"If there is any allegation, the force itself or the ministry concerned is taking action after holding proper investigation," he added.

He went on saying that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is active and playing an independent role in carrying out any investigation, but it is unreasonable to impose sanctions by identifying the chiefs and former security officers of a force.

Under the purview of human rights, such decision is a kind of 'human rights violation', the minister added.

"Where ordinary people in the US came down to the streets of different cities to protest extrajudicial killings, such statements (of US) for other country on the human rights situation is not acceptable," he said.

The minister suspected that ill political motive of vested quarters including anti-Bangladesh people or evil forces is deeply involved in taking this decision.

MSH/