DHAKA, 24 December 2021, (TON): The United States has proposed to the Bangladesh government for signing an agreement on using the funds it is likely to receive for its security forces under the Leahy Law of that country.

The Bangladesh government, at an inter-ministerial meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on December 21, discussed the scopes of engagements under the Leahy Law after getting a communication from the US on December 1 in this regard.

The prime minister’s principal secretary, Ahmad Kaikaus, presided over the meeting attended by top officials of different ministries and departments.

The Leahy Law, enacted in 1961, refers to two statutory provisions prohibiting the US government from using funds for assistance to units of foreign security forces if there is credible information implicating the units in the commission of gross violation of human rights, according to the US Department of State website.

The matter was also discussed in the context of the US sanctions slapped on the Rapid Action Battalion and several of its current and former senior officers on December 10.