Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed obtained permission to visit USA to only join a United Nations summit in New York, a home ministry spokesman has said.
The event is being organised by the United Nations (UN).
According to the sources in Home Ministry, the IGP had a US visa before a sanction was imposed earlier by the US government. However, the UN Police Chief Conference is quite different from the US Sanctions territory.
So, he wouldn't be barred from participating in the conference, the home ministry sources said on condition of anonymity.
However, the IGP will not be allowed to go anywhere else in New York apart from the conference venue, as per the protocol.
On December 10 in 2021, the United States sanctioned IGP Benazir and six other former and serving commanders in the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for their human rights violations.
Despite sanctions on Benazir Ahmed, the government nominated him, along with other officials, to represent Bangladesh in the UN Summit.
As host of the United Nations, the US is bound by a series of international treaties, including the need to expeditiously approve visas for foreign delegations seeking to do legitimate diplomatic business at the United Nations, Foreign Secretary Masud bin Momen told the media.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan will lead the Bangladesh delegation at the summit from August 31 to September 1, which is expected to discuss United Nations policing priorities in international peace and security processes, among other issues.
Apart from the minister and IGP, the home ministry's Joint Secretary Abu Hena Mostafa Zaman, Private Secretary to the minister Md Asaduzzaman, the police headquarters' Additional Deputy Inspector General (UN Affairs) Nassian Wazed and IGP's staff officer Assistant Inspector General Muhammad Masud Alam were nominated for the visit.
