The Crime Desk: The Pentagon has opened its mouth about sanctions against General Aziz. The agency said the sanctions against Aziz reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to democratic institutions and the rule of law. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder expressed the Pentagon’s opinion on the ban on Gen. Aziz at a regular Pentagon press briefing on Wednesday.
The US Department of Defense believes the sanctions against General Aziz reflect the US commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
At the briefing, Pentagon-accredited correspondent Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari asked PAT how the Pentagon is directing its military and security partnership with Bangladesh. Because the United States has imposed a visa ban on Bangladesh’s former army chief, General Aziz, for his alleged involvement in significant corruption. May I know what the Pentagon thinks about this?
In response, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said, “As you know and also mentioned in your question, the State Department has sanctioned General (Aziz) Ahmed for his involvement in massive corruption. This ban was imposed last May. The ban reaffirms the U.S. commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bangladesh and supports the Department’s (Pentagon) efforts to combat corruption there.
He further said, I would like to conclude by saying that the United States has a close bilateral defense relationship with Bangladesh. There exists a partnership based on the common interests and values of the two countries in issues such as a free and open Indo-Pacific region and maritime and regional security.
In the third week of May, the United States imposed sanctions on former Bangladesh army chief General Aziz. The ban was imposed against him for his widespread involvement in corruption.
