US funding for foreign security forces: Dhaka seeks more time to send feedback
Dhaka has sought more time from Washington for sending feedback on the Leahy Law, which governs the US' funding to foreign security forces.
"We need more time to complete stakeholders' consultations…we informed them (Washington) about the need for more consultations," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told our correspondent today.
Officials concerned said Dhaka in principle decided to agree to the Leahy Law, with some suggestions to protect the interests of Bangladesh.
As per the Leahy Law, the US needs to get consent letters from the countries it provides security assistance to.
In a letter to the foreign ministry on December 1, the US had sought Bangladesh's response by December 15. Dhaka then extended the time until December 31 to give feedback. During this time, two inter-ministerial meetings were held, with the last one on December 28.
After the meeting at the foreign ministry -- attended by top officials from the ministries of home, law and law enforcement agencies, Masud Bin Momen told reporters that they would hold another consultation meeting soon to finalise the language of the feedback.
The foreign secretary did not mention any specific time when the response would be sent, but said it would be done at the earliest.
He also said that Dhaka would put forward some suggestions so that Bangladesh is consulted before any US decision in terms of security cooperation.
He said if the US says that they have credible information on any Bangladeshi organisation, Dhaka would seek to learn of the source of the information.
"We will seek adequate time to explain the measures that Bangladesh will have taken and its position," Masud Bin Momen said on December 28.
"We are reviewing Bangladesh's benefits if we endorse the US law. Also we are checking if any policy of our law enforcers' contradicts the US law," the foreign secretary said.
He said there is no link between US sanctions on Rab and seven of its former and current officials imposed on December 10 in relation to human rights violations.
Since 2015, the US provided $66.9 million in foreign military financing and $7.29 million in international military education and training assistance to Bangladesh, according to the US State Department.
The US government has $130.59 million in active government-to-government sales cases with Bangladesh under the foreign military sales system.
As long as the sanction remains in place, Rab would not get any US assistance.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday told our correspondent over phone that the security assistance that Bangladesh gets from the US was not a big deal.
"There is no need to create a buzz over it," he said.
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