No reason for US to impose more sanctions

There is no reason for the US to impose more sanctions, said Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque yesterday.

"It is my view that the USA will not impose any more sanctions. They will understand the reality and assist us to hold a fair, free and acceptable election," he told reporters at his Secretariat office.

The comment comes after Bangla daily Kalbela reported that the US might impose sanctions on some former and current officials and politicians for corruption and violation of human rights.

The sanctions may be imposed within this month, said the report.

It said the US-Bangladesh relations strained mainly after the US  in 2021 announced sanctions on Rab and seven of its current and former officials for extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of rights violations.

The same year, the Biden administration did not invite Bangladesh to its Democracy Summit.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not happy with Washington because the US is not repatriating a self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu and is supporting Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Kalbela report said.

After returning from the US recently, Hasina at an event said that Bangladesh would not buy anything from countries that impose sanctions on Bangladesh.

In recent months, US Ambassador Peter Haas has repeatedly said that the US wants free and fair polls in Bangladesh.

This year, a series of high-level US officials visited Bangladesh and advocated for free and fair polls.

Washington also proposed signing two defence agreements with Dhaka as the latter seeks to buy equipment from the US.

The US, which is the largest single market for Bangladesh's garment products, also expressed concerns over labour rights and the Digital Security Act in Bangladesh.

Yesterday, Agriculture Minister Razzaque said as an independent and sovereign country, Bangladesh never expects foreign interference in its internal matters.

"There is an elected government and [there] will be another election after six months. It will be held according to the constitution," he said.

Regarding the Kalbela report, the US embassy in Dhaka yesterday told UNB that the US maintained a "broad and deep" relationship with Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in a statement said the Kalbela report falsely stated that Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen used to work as a lobbyist for a Chinese firm before he became a minister.

"Such publicity against the foreign minister is tantamount to defaming him and tarnishing the country's image," the statement said.