US blacklists ex-Bangladesh general named in Al Jazeera investigation

Former army chief Aziz Ahmed, subject of All the Prime Minister’s Men, was involved ‘in significant corruption’, US State Department says.

The United States has blacklisted Bangladesh’s former chief of staff, retired General Aziz Ahmed, because of his involvement “in significant corruption”.

Ahmed was the subject of the 2021 Al Jazeera investigation All the Prime Minister’s Men, which focused on the how a criminal gang led by the general’s brother, Haris Ahmed, used police and paramilitary units to abduct rivals and earn millions in bribes.

“Aziz Ahmed engaged in significant corruption by interfering in public processes while helping his brother evade accountability for criminal activity in Bangladesh,” the US Department of State said in a statement on Monday.

“Aziz also worked closely with his brother to ensure the improper awarding of military contracts and accepted bribes in exchange for government appointments for his personal benefit,” it added.

As a result of the blacklisting, Aziz and his immediate family members will be ineligible to enter the US.

Today's announcement that former Bangladeshi General Aziz Ahmed is generally ineligible for entry into the United States reaffirms the U.S. commitment to work with our Bangladeshi partners to promote accountability for corrupt public officials.

— Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) May 20, 2024

In February 2021, Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit revealed how the general’s brothers, Haris Ahmed and Anis Ahmed, had fled Bangladesh to Hungary and Malaysia, respectively, after being found guilty for their involvement in the 1996 murder of Mustafizur Rahman Mustafa, said to be a member of a rival political party.

While Haris Ahmed and Anis Ahmed lived outside Bangladesh, their