US Congressman Gregory W Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement on Saturday concerning the designation of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) by the US administration.
In the statement Meeks said, he does not believe wholesale sanctions on Bangladesh are warranted at present, but he strongly supports the designation of the Rapid Action Battalion and several of its current and former members by the US government.
“I believe sanctions can be most useful when they are targeted and don’t believe wholesale sanctions on Bangladesh are currently warranted. However, I strongly support the Biden Administration’s designation of the Rapid Action Battalion and several of its current and former members under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act for human rights violations” he said.
The Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee added that he will continue to support strengthening US-Bangladesh relationship and look forward to working to help Bangladesh address human rights and democracy challenges in the country, including ensuring that the country’s next elections are free and fair.
