Shawdesh Desk:

The US Department of State in an announcement on Monday said former chief of Bangladesh Army, Aziz Ahmed, and his immediate family members, were ineligible for entry into the United States.

The decision stems from the US government’s findings of former general Aziz Ahmed’s involvement in ‘significant corruption’.

The State Department’s announcement, posted on its website, highlighted Aziz’s actions as detrimental to Bangladesh’s democratic institutions and eroding public trust in governmental processes.

Specifically, it noted Aziz’s interference in public processes to aid his brother in evading accountability for criminal activities within Bangladesh.

Moreover, the announcement emphasised Aziz’s complicity in corrupt practices, including improperly awarding military contracts and accepting bribes for personal gain.

These actions directly violated the principles of transparency and integrity, it said.

The decision to bar Aziz and his family members from entry into the US falls under Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programmes Appropriations Act.

This move underscores the US commitment to bolstering democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bangladesh, it said.

Furthermore, the announcement reiterated the US’s support for anti-corruption efforts in Bangladesh, outlining assistance aimed at enhancing government transparency, improving the business environment, and strengthening capacity for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes.

Aziz Ahmed, who joined tthe Bangladesh Army in 1983, served as army chief from June 2018 until his retirement in 2021.