The United States Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller, on Tuesday said that the US had nothing to announce whether any US agency had found assets of Bangladesh鈥檚 former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed in the United States of America or in any other country.
He, however, said that they never previewed sanctions or other actions that they might take.
Miller was asked about both the former police chief Benazir and former army chief Aziz Ahmed, who recently came under the US visa restrictions over allegations of corruptions.聽聽
鈥楽o with respect to the first question, I don鈥檛 have anything to announce. With respect to the second, I鈥檓 aware of the allegations and the media reports that you referenced,鈥� he told the routine press briefing at the US state department in Washington.聽
Referring to the recent revelation of the immediate past police chief鈥檚 massive corruption in Bangladesh, the questioner asked if the spokesperson could tell them whether any US agency had found any of his assets in the US or any other country and whether the US had frozen such assets as Benazir was also subject to two US sanctions.
Miller said that they believed corruption saps economic growth, hinders development, destabilises government, and undermines democracy.
鈥榃e have made anti-corruption a core national security interest since the outset of this administration, and our detailed implementation plan for this strategy has been articulated at a number of senior levels, but I don鈥檛 have anything new to announce. And as you know, we never preview sanctions or other actions that we might take,鈥� he told the briefing, responding to the questions.
About a joint investigation by German-based DW and S眉ddeutsche Zeitung and Sweden-based Netra News revealing that former and current members of Bangladesh鈥檚 Rapid Action Battalion routinely get deployed as UN peacekeepers despite allegations of gross violation of human rights against the force, Miller said that they were aware of those reports.
鈥楽o we鈥檙e aware of these reports. Peacekeeping operations play an essential role in promoting international peace and security, and it is essential that peacekeeping personnel protect human rights,鈥� he said.
In accordance with the UN Due Diligence Policy, the UN relies on troop and police contributing countries to self-certify that they are not sending troops or police who are implicated in committing human rights violations or violations of international humanitarian law, he added.
