Donald Lu: US committed to work with Bangladesh to combat corruption

United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has said that the US, in collaboration with the citizens of Bangladesh, intends to combat corruption on all levels.

He made the comment in a written interview conducted by the Voice of America Bangla on Monday.

The US official discussed bilateral relations between the two countries as well as Bangladesh's role and importance in the US Indo-Pacific strategy.

When asked about the US sanction on former Bangladesh Army chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed was a part of the fight against corruption, the official said the "public designation" under Section 7031 (c) against the official was imposed due to his involvement in “significant corruption.”

Donald Lu came to Bangladesh on a two-day visit on May 17. Later, on May 20, the US Department of State announced the sanction on General (retd) Aziz Ahmed, rendering him and his immediate family members ineligible for entry into the US.

In the interview with the Voice of America Bangla, Donald Lu expressed his satisfaction with the Bangladesh government's willingness to cooperate in resolving corruption-related issues.

“Ministers of the government of Bangladesh have issued statements that these allegations of corruption will be fully investigated, and we welcome this. When I was ambassador to Albania and the Kyrgyz Republic, we imposed sanctions on corrupt officials. 

It was unpopular with the (Albanian) government at the time, but now the banned former corrupt officials are all in jail. Society around the world is eager to see corruption prosecuted,” he said. 

To the question of whether any high-profile Bangladeshi may face similar restrictions from the US, the official said: “When we have credible information about corruption, we take action publicly in the form of sanctions and visa restrictions”

Donald Lu added that corrupt individuals are prohibited from traveling to or using the United States as a destination for their corrupt money under the law. “I hope we will continue to work together with the people of Bangladesh to achieve our common goal of fighting all forms of corruption."

On May 23, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that a “white-skinned” foreign country wanted to install an airbase in Bangladesh and is still conspiring against her government after being rejected.

"Next time, they said, no election will be held in the country. If an election took place, there would be no problem for me to be sworn into power if I allowed a country to set up an airbase inside our country. The proposal came from a ‘white skin’ country,” she said at a meeting of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance.

“I replied that I am the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. We liberated this country through a war. I do not want to gain power by renting or giving certain parts of my country to anyone. If people in the country want it, I will come to power,” she added. 

When Voice of America Bangla, asked if the United States ever expressed interest in building an airbase in Bangladesh, Donald Lu said the allegations were completely false. 

“We respect the sovereignty of Bangladesh. Our priority during the election was to work with Bangladesh to support a free, fair and peaceful election.”

Source: UNB