Special Correspondent :
The United States has imposed sanctions on Bangladesh’s former army chief, General Aziz Ahmed, alleging his involvement in corruption.
A statement issued by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Monday at midnight Bangladesh time declared that General Aziz and his immediate family members are now generally ineligible for entry into the US.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud mentioned on Tuesday that Washington had informed the Bangladesh embassy about the sanctions on former army Chief General Aziz Ahmed before making the matter public.
In response to the travel ban, General Aziz criticised the allegations against him, dismissing them as irrelevant. He suggested the travel ban on him and his family could be a move to embarrass or discredit the government.
The US statement read, “The US Department of State announced today the public designation of former General Aziz Ahmed, previously Chief of the Bangladesh Army Staff, due to his involvement in significant corruption.”
It further stated that Aziz’s actions have contributed to undermining Bangladesh’s democratic institutions and eroding public trust in public institutions and processes.
“The statement also accused Aziz of engaging in significant corruption by interfering in public processes to help his brother evade accountability for criminal activity in Bangladesh,” the statement added.
It highlighted that Aziz had collaborated closely with his brother to improperly award military contracts and had accepted bribes in exchange for government appointments for his personal benefit.
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bangladesh through its recent designation of sanctions on General Aziz Ahmed, the former army chief.
A statement from the US Department of State highlighted their support for anti-corruption efforts in Bangladesh, aimed at improving transparency in government services, enhancing the business environment, and building capacity to investigate and prosecute financial crimes like money laundering.
“These public designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programmes Appropriations Act. This action renders Aziz and his immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States,” the statement read.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud clarified on Tuesday that the sanctions against General Aziz and his family are not under the US-declared visa policy but were imposed due to corruption under a different act.
He mentioned at a ‘Meet the Reporters’ event organised by the Dhaka Reporters Unity that the matter falls within the domain of the Bangladesh Army, refraining from further comment.
Mahmud did, however, stress that Bangladesh continues to collaborate with the US in the fight against corruption.
Meanwhile, General Aziz Ahmed reacted to several media outlets regarding the US ban, suggesting that the travel restrictions imposed on him and his family could be a tactic to embarrass or discredit the government.
General Aziz strongly denied any involvement in the accusations brought against him and asserted that he possesses all the necessary documentation to prove his innocence regarding allegations of lobbying for his brother.
“I challenge anyone to provide evidence implicating me in aiding my brother to evade accountability for criminal activity in Bangladesh during my tenure as Chief of Army Staff from June 2018 to June 2021 and as Chief of Border Guard Bangladesh for four years from 2012,” he said.
In February 2021, an international media Al-Jazeera news report titled ‘All the Prime Minister’s Men’ levied various allegations, including corruption, against then-army chief Aziz and his brothers. Both the army headquarters and the Foreign Ministry refuted the report, labelling it as ‘false’ and’slanderous.’
General Aziz, at the time, had said that the claims made against him in the Al Jazeera documentary were fabricated, reiterating his stance .
He, however, claimed that the ban was not true.
He also said that although this ban is personal, he was in an important position during the Awami League government.
He termed the US sanctions on him unfortunate, and even he was surprised and shocked.