The United States has imposed sanctions on five organizations and six individuals from Bangladesh, citing allegations of extrajudicial killings and involvement in terrorism.
On December 27, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced these sanctions, which include economic and trade restrictions. The organizations targeted are Bangladesh-based groups linked to terrorism, such as ISIS, Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Islamic State in Bangladesh, Caliphate in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh branch of Al-Haramain, and the Al-Qaeda-funded RIHS. Additionally, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, which operates in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, was included in the list.
The sanctions mean that any assets held by these individuals or entities in the U.S. are frozen, and they are barred from obtaining U.S. visas. Among those sanctioned are former high-ranking officials of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), including: Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed, Former Additional Director General of RAB Md. Anwar Latif Khan, Former Additional Director General Khan Mohammad Azad,Imprisoned former IGP and RAB Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun,Former Additional Director General Mohammad Jahangir Alam,Former Additional Director General Mustafa Sarwar Tofail.
Despite the RAB’s Director General issuing a public apology for past actions, the organization remains on the sanctions list, with the U.S. also exposing the involvement of several international terrorist groups operating in Bangladesh and South Asia.
Younus Govt pave the way to bail Militants :
After the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel Laureate Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, took power, reports emerged of actions that enabled the release of convicted militants and extremists.
From August 5 to September 17, a total of 98 convicted and under-trial militants reportedly escaped from prisons amid unrest linked to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
According to Brig. Gen. Syed Motaher Hossain, Inspector General of Prisons, over the past month, approximately 15,000 prisoners, including top terrorists and militants, have been granted bail. Eight jails were attacked during the protests, leading to mass escapes. In total, over 2,000 prisoners fled custody, reducing the prison population from nearly 70,000 to 55,000.