Bangladesh will ask US to change its stance on RAB: Momen

The government would once more urge the US to ease sanctions against seven current and former members of the Rapid Action Battalion as well as the organization itself, according to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.

When asked if the RAB issue will be discussed during the official meeting with Donald Lu, Momen dodged the subject by responding that he doesn't know.

The US and the UK helped Bangladesh with logistics and equipment to construct the law enforcement unit based on their ideas, the minister said during a seminar on the campus of Dhaka University on Saturday.

“RAB has matured with the passage of time. People of the country want them for their performance. America pressured them in other ways. We will try to resolve these issues by discussing with the United States,” Said Momen.

Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, is due to land in Dhaka on Saturday.

Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher, Senior Director for South Asia at the US National Security Council arrived in Bangladesh on January 8 on a four-day trip.