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The US said the ban was imposed under Section 7031(c) of the Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of the US Department of State
Published : 21 May 2024, 11:20 PM
The US travel ban on former Bangladesh Army chief General Aziz Ahmed over corruption allegations is not under visa restrictions announced by the Biden administration over issues related to democracy before the Jan 7 vote, Obaidul Quader has said.
The Awami League general secretary spoke about the issue at a press conference on Tuesday.
Also road transport and bridges minister, Quader noted that the foreign ministry had already said the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, DC had been informed about the matter first before it was made public.
“The action taken against General Aziz does not pertain to visa policy implementation but to the enforcement of an appropriations bill,” he said.
“That’s all we know,” he said, declining to comment further.
General Aziz earlier dismissed as “untrue” the corruption and nepotism allegations made by the US.
The former army chief linked the sanctions to the documentary ‘All the Prime Minister’s Men,’ which aired on Qatar-based Al-Jazeera three years ago, describing the documentary as a "drama."
In February 2021, an Al-Jazeera news report brought a slate of allegations, including corruption, against Gen Aziz.
The Army Headquarters and the foreign ministry issued statements calling the report ‘false’ and ‘slanderous’.
Gen Aziz served as chief of army staff from June 2018 to June 2021. He also headed the Border Guard Bangladesh for four years from 2012.
The State Department imposed visa sanctions on him and his family on Monday for his alleged involvement in corruption.
Aziz and members of his immediate family cannot enter the United States as a result of the ban imposed under Section 7031(c) of the Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of the US Department of State.
