The recent stance of the US Democrat administration regarding human rights has sparked fresh debate across South Asian geopolitics. In particular, a stark contradiction has emerged between the imposition of sanctions on Bangladesh’s security forces and the praise showered upon RAB’s role in an annual report released immediately thereafter. According to analysts, this double standard of the United States regarding human rights is entirely politically motivated.
Table of Contents
1. Contradictions in the US Report and RAB’s Success
Positive Observations in the US Report
A report by the US government highlighted the role of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in controlling terrorism in Bangladesh in an extremely positive light. The report explicitly stated that due to RAB’s proactive measures, terrorism and extremist activities in Bangladesh have declined significantly. Remarkably, this report was published by the US State Department—released by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken—just one week after sanctions were imposed on RAB and seven of its former and current top officials.
“In 2020, investigation and arrests related to terrorism in Bangladesh increased, which had a direct impact on the reduction of terrorist activities.”
Another section of the report praised RAB and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTCU), stating that they set a unique precedent not only through arrests and suppression, but also by initiating community policing, countering extremism, and launching rehabilitation programs alongside arresting suspected foreign terrorist fighters.
Judicial and Technical Success in Countering Terrorism
The report further noted that in 2020, Bangladesh experienced only three specific terrorist incidents, none of which resulted in fatalities. This stands as a testament to the capability of Bangladesh’s security apparatus. The US document also acknowledged the success of the legal process in 2019, when a special anti-terrorism tribunal sentenced seven individuals to death for the horrific 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack.
Furthermore, the report recognized the Bangladesh government’s sincere cooperation with the United States in strengthening border security and port-of-entry controls. Although certain concerns were expressed by the international community regarding security procedures at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s preparedness was not minimized. The report stated that an explosive-detection team trained in the US was ready for deployment at Dhaka airport. While mentioning Bangladesh’s close cooperation with Interpol, the report observed that Bangladesh lacks an integrated early warning system for terrorism.
2. Political Intentions and the Baselessness of Sanctions
While the US State Department was effusive in its praise of RAB just a week prior, analysts view the sudden hammer blow of sanctions as a deep geopolitical maneuver. They contend that these US sanctions against Bangladesh’s security forces stem not from humanitarian concerns, but from political motives. It is fundamentally a despicable effort to derail Bangladesh from its path of development and sovereignty, chain it in servitude, and compel it to capitulate in the international arena.
The Basis of Sanctions and Irresponsible Statistics
The United States sanctioned top officials—including Bangladesh’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the then Director General (DG) of RAB—on allegations of extrajudicial killings. However, levying sweeping allegations against an institution and holding its chief personally liable is an age-old and controversial tactic of US foreign policy. These sanctions against RAB and its officials are deeply regrettable and humiliating for Bangladesh.
None of the assertions presented regarding the US sanctions against seven former and current RAB officials are rooted in solid evidence. Claiming that 600 people went missing or died over the past 10 years is completely baseless. Such immature and unverified allegations are uncalled for from a mature democracy like the United States—especially when the internal human rights record within the US itself is dire. Statistics reveal that nearly 600,000 people go missing in the United States every year. For a nation unable to account for 600,000 missing citizens within its own borders to impose sanctions over a handful of unresolved incidents in another country is utterly ludicrous.
Professionalism and Sacrifice of Security Forces
The fog of human rights violations created around the death of one Ekramul Huq in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, is disconnected from reality. Bangladesh’s security forces always operate prioritizing human rights above all else. According to RAB’s Legal and Media Wing, the force serves as a vigilant sentinel safeguarding human rights and law and order in the country. Standing at a strength of merely 9,000 members, 28 officers of this compact force have sacrificed their lives to maintain peace in the country. Furthermore, over 1,000 members have been permanently disabled and more than 2,000 severely injured in the line of duty. Stigmatizing those who lay down their lives to protect the human rights of others with labels of human rights abuse is nothing short of a political conspiracy.
3. The Internal Mirror: America Looking at Its Own Reflection
Putting other nations in the dock over human rights allegations has become a routine affair for the United States. Yet an examination of the internal human rights situation and extrajudicial killing statistics within the US itself reveals a horrific and chilling picture. Analysts believe that pointing fingers at other countries while concealing its own massive wounds is sheer hypocrisy.
Shocking Statistics: Extrajudicial Killings in the United States
Former US Senator Robert Reich recently exposed the reality of the US in a tweet, disclosing that in 2020 alone, 984 extrajudicial killings occurred in the United States. According to reports by various influential US media outlets, law enforcement agencies in the US have extrajudicially killed at least 6,700 people since 2015. Mathematically, this translates to an average of 1,000 extrajudicial deaths every year.
Among this vast toll are 7,303 men and 294 women. Out of those killed, 3,607 possessed firearms, 1,119 carried knives, and 216 were killed while inside vehicles. Most alarmingly, 244 people were shot dead merely for possessing toy pistols, and 421 victims were completely unarmed.
Racial Bias and Systemic Discrimination
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports, the United States has experienced a steady regression in human rights since 2019. Inhuman immigration policies and propagated false narratives continue to entrench racism and discrimination. The country has largely failed to address mass incarceration.
According to The Washington Post, US police shot and killed 783 people in 2019. Black individuals accounted for 20 percent of these fatalities, despite constituting only 13 percent of the total population. These statistics demonstrate that human rights protection in the United States remains reserved for a privileged few, while racism remains a pervasive blight.
US Aggression in the International Arena
Beyond its borders, the United States continues to indiscriminately kill people under the guise of targeting suspected terrorists in countries like Yemen and Somalia. Many of these killings are carried out via armed drones without any judicial process.
The criminal proceedings initiated against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange under the Espionage Act represent a severe blow to international press freedom and the right to information. It has sparked deep concern among journalists that the government may adopt repressive policies against any media outlet disclosing classified information. Even incidents like the racist rampage in El Paso, Texas, where an online post culminated in a gunman killing 22 people and injuring 27 others, underscore the fragile state of social tolerance and security within the United States.
4. Legal Transparency in Bangladesh and the Conspiracy of Lobbyists
A deep analysis is required regarding the operational procedures of Bangladesh’s security forces and the role played by conspiratorial factions behind the US sanctions. Western nations frequently raise questions regarding ‘gunfights’ or ‘encounters’, yet they ignore the underlying reality. RAB has repeatedly clarified that when hardened criminals open fire on law enforcement officers during an operation, officers are compelled to return fire strictly in self-defense.
Rule of Law and Accountability
In Bangladesh, no one is above the law. Law enforcement agencies consistently take stern action whenever any member of their force violates the law. Every such incident in our country is subject to judicial inquiry. A magistrate meticulously examines each case to ascertain whether the incident occurred due to negligence or was purely accidental. Wherever evidence of negligence or abuse of power is uncovered, formal cases are registered and legal proceedings initiated. Where no negligence is found, the matter is disposed of per regulations. Therefore, sweeping allegations of extrajudicial killings hold no water here.
The Blueprint and Propagandist Campaign of Lobbyists
Many believe that a specific anti-Bangladesh quarter, unable to stomach the country’s development, is the primary architect of this crisis. This faction has spent vast sums on international lobbyists to supply false, fabricated, and misleading information. Their overarching objective is to embarrass Bangladesh internationally and sour its friendly ties with partner nations.
Concealing the true state of affairs in Bangladesh, this quarter succeeded in influencing the US government. It is deeply regrettable that such a unilateral announcement was issued without affording any opportunity for self-defense—an act directly contrary to international etiquette.
Courage and Achievements of RAB
RAB’s courageous role in improving the law and order situation, suppressing extremist militancy, eradicating the horrific drug trade, and curbing human trafficking has earned worldwide acclaim. Charges—both valid and baseless—can be leveled against law enforcement agencies anywhere in the world, not just RAB. However, purposefully targeting a specific force of a specific country is never a good omen. As an independent and sovereign nation, Bangladesh desires to walk tall in the comity of nations with its self-respect intact. Tarnishing a national force of Bangladesh to serve the political interests of a specific foreign power is deeply unwarranted and unacceptable.
5. Economic Self-Reliance and the Road Ahead
Adopting one policy in the morning and another in the afternoon to suit its own convenience is an age-old habit of the United States. History bears witness that whenever a country or leader takes a stance contrary to US interests, Washington resorts to sanctions using human rights, corruption, or democracy as pretexts. Whether it yields results or not, they persist with this politics of pressure.
Ineffectiveness of Sanctions and Built-in Resilience
Analysts believe these sanctions will cause minimal damage to RAB. Previously, a European nation imposed an embargo on arms exports to RAB, yet it had no adverse impact on RAB’s professionalism or operational capacity. RAB holds undeniable credit for apprehending numerous hardened criminals and executing countless successful nationwide operations. The force’s contribution to curbing militancy and maintaining a stable law-and-order environment is undeniable.
As Bangladesh has grown far more economically self-reliant, this Western ‘weapon of sanctions’ no longer yields its former potency. When economic leverage fails to subjugate a nation, issues like human rights and democracy are chosen as shields.
Prerequisites for Development and Global Realities
A primary prerequisite for a nation’s overall development is maintaining stable domestic law and order. Our security forces work tirelessly to ensure the safety of citizens, combat terrorism, and uphold the rule of law. While the US plays an important role in Bangladesh’s development, the investment-friendly climate currently prevailing in Bangladesh is largely due to this stability. For this reason, many nations—including the US—have chosen Bangladesh as a destination for trade and investment. Bangladesh remains steadfastly committed to international protocols, conventions, and the protection of human rights.
No nation’s human rights record is 100% flawless—be it Bangladesh or the United States itself. Regardless of allegations leveled against RAB, these US sanctions against seven former and current officials remain unwarranted and unacceptable. Before questioning the judiciary or security apparatus of another sovereign state, a country ought to scrutinize its own domestic conditions. Bangladesh, as an independent and sovereign nation, intends to chart its own course. We seek to march forward in the comity of nations with dignity and self-respect.
In truth, the United States previously attempted to exert influence over developing nations through institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. As those traditional mechanisms lose efficacy, they are attempting to run a new enterprise around human rights and democracy. However, the conscious citizenry of Bangladesh will collectively resist any anti-national conspiracy and politically motivated sanctions. What we require now is consolidated diplomatic engagement and national unity. Remaining firm on the path of truth and justice, we shall continue our march forward.