Officer Exposes Brutal Killings by Bangladeshi Elite Police Unit RAB

[Sine Nomine]

2: corrupt politicians

And these stinky bastards will let that happen?

Exactly, see the link consistent promotion of killing by awami league and destruction of Judiciary.

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/awam...esh-justice-system-into-kangaroo-court.54786/

Downfall of BD judiciary started,soon after so called International Kangroo Court was started,that turned prosecution into joke and slowly whole judiciary into joke rest RAB came and what left was destroyed.Judiciary in India Pakistan is not credible looking from level of district courts but BD's has been turned into joke in these years.

 

[Banglar Bir]

UK police trained BD ‘death squad’
FROM THE NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHED DEC 22, 2010 11:32PM



Army soldiers inspect the abandoned uniforms of the rebel Bangladesh Rifles members inside the BDR headquarters in Dhaka.— Photo by Reuters (File)

LONDON: The British government has been training a Bangladeshi paramilitary force condemned by human rights organisations as a ‘government death squad’, leaked US embassy cables have revealed.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) – which has been held responsible for hundreds of extra-judicial killings in recent years and is said to use torture – have received British training in ‘investigative interviewing techniques’ and ‘rules of engagement’.

Details of the training have been revealed in a number of cables, released by WikiLeaks, which address the counter-terrorism objectives of the US and UK governments in Bangladesh.

One cable says the US will not offer any assistance other than human rights training to RAB – and that it will be illegal under the US law to do so – because RAB’s members commit gross human rights violations with impunity.

Since RAB was established six years ago, it is estimated by some rights activists to have been responsible for more than 1,000 extra-judicial killings, described euphemistically as ‘crossfire deaths’.

In September last year, the director-general of RAB said his men had killed 577 people in ‘crossfire’. In March this year he updated the figure to 622. RAB’s use of torture has also been documented by rights organisations. RAB officers are also alleged to have been involved in acts of kidnapping and extortion, and accused of taking large bribes in return for carrying out crossfire killings.

However, cables reveal that both the British and the Americans, in their determination to strengthen counter-terrorism operations in Bangladesh, are in favour of bolstering the force, arguing that “RAB enjoys a great deal of respect and admiration” in a population scarred by decreasing law and order over the last decade.

In one cable, US Ambassador in Dhaka James Moriarty expresses the view that RAB is the “enforcement organisation best positioned to one day become a Bangladeshi version of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation”.

In another cable, Mr Moriarty quotes British officials as saying they have been “training RAB for 18 months in areas such as investigative interviewing techniques and rules of engagement”.

Asked about the training assistance for RAB, the UK Foreign Office said the British government “provides a range of human rights assistance” in the country.

However, RAB’s head of training, Mejbah Uddin, told the Guardian that he was unaware of any human rights training since he was appointed last summer.

According to the cables, the British training for RAB began three years ago under the Labour government. However, RAB officials said independently of the cables that they had taken part in a series of courses and workshops as recently as October – five months after the formation of the present coalition government.

The current Bangladeshi government promised in its manifesto that it would end extra-judicial killings, but these have continued following its election two years ago.

On Dec 21, RAB announced it had shot dead a 45-year-old man, Anisur Rahman, said to be a member of the Communist party in the west of the country.—Guardian News Service

 

[Banglar Bir]

Militant attacks: Need for nabbing culprits alive
Horror-struck by a significant number of audacious militant attacks across the country in quick succession, the nation had been on tenterhooks for long four days since 24 March over the Sylhet anti-terror operation by the Army, which left 6 people dead and many injured including senior officers. The Army deserves commendations for taking utmost care to save the lives of 63 civilians during the raid codenamed Operation Twilight and maintaining transparency in that they allowed satellite TV channels to cover and transmit the incident on the spot.
No sooner had the Sylhet anti-terror operation was over, than another trouble spot was reported not very far from there. On March 30 the elite tactical unit SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics), conducted ‘Operation Hit Back’ at Nasirpur “militant hideout” in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila. Explosions and continuous firing were heard after SWAT team resumed ‘Operation Hit Back’ where 10-20 ‘militants’ were learnt to be holed up in 2 dens. Another similar crime scene has been detected in Comilla.

Over the past 8 years widespread doubts crept in when too many
extrajudicial deaths occurred in the custody of the Police, RAB and other law enforcing agencies, more often than not at night, prohibiting the media from taking snapshots or shoot video. Because of such pointless concealment the AL government earned the people’s revulsion and an extremely bad name such as heinous practice of State terrorism to physically eliminate leaders, activists and dissidents belonging to the opposition BNP and its allies.
A horrific number of so-called terrorists have been killed in custody by the RAB, Police and other law enforcing agencies [in many cases dead victims were handcuffed and bullet wounds were found on their chest] which were unacceptably wrong.
Regarding this we may explicate the need for a different approach in dealing with suicidal attacks and making all efforts to nab—-we repeat, arrest alive—-perpetrators to learn, study and contemplate about their indoctrination, objective and ultimate goal in this country where an overwhelming majority of the populace are secular, and they hate extremism.
Besides, it can be surmised that external forces might have been trying to fish in troubled waters. Indian media news portals, including the Ananda Bazar Patrika, reported that the Indian state of Paschimbanga is a hotbed of militant Islamist Jihadis in 2014. But it is not known if India has taken appropriate measures to eliminate them.
Importantly, it creates a great deal of confusion among the body politic as to why prior to her India visit starting 7 April 2017, the Awami League chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—-the most trusted friend of India, has accused after long 17 years—-India’s intelligence agency R&AW and finger pointed at Delhi for her electoral defeat in 2001.
What is more, even one of the most respected journalists and author, Padma Bhushan Madhav Vittal Kamath (1921 –2014) loathed Bangladesh which, in his opinion “in the first place, has no right to exist” [Vide What should we do with Bangladesh? By M V Kamath, dated 01 September 2005; http://organiser.org/archives/historic/dynamic /modules4998.html?%20name=Content&pa =showpage&pid=98&page=18].
Last but not least, there is strong reservation about a defence deal with India which has wanton disregard for Bangladesh’s needs. Besides, Bangladesh is surrounded on its three sides by India. What enemy will Bangladesh fight with?
The global extremist group ISIS—-that has been fighting against Muslims and non-Muslims—-has been claiming credit for militant attacks in this country over the last couple of years, nevertheless Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal turned down any involvement of the outfit in terror attacks in Bangladesh. During the Holey Artisan attack in Dhaka in July 2016, which killed 29 people, the Government emphatically denied any ISIS involvement in the attack, on the contrary the ISIS owned the attack, and published photos of several dead victims while the gunmen were still holding hostages inside the café, in its news website Amaq al-Akhbariyah.
Well ahead of the Holey Artisan attack the militants had published details of what they were planning to do [Vide www. dw.com/bn/% E0%A6 dated 2 Jul 2016]. But disappointingly, one law enforcememt agency said that they were trying to sketch a map of the restaurant—-though Google Maps street view provides the entire view of Holey Artisan.
Two suspected militants were killed at Sitakunda in Chittagong on 16 March last when they set off ‘suicide explosions” after police attacked their hideout. On March 17, a suspected bomber died in what is believed to be a suicide blast at a barrack of the RAB in Dhaka’s Ashkona area. On March 24, another suicide bomber attacked a police box and blew himself up in Uttara, near Dhaka Airport. On the same day, the army, police, and RAB began an operation at a suspected den of banned Islamist militant Jama’atul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) at a house in Shibbari area of Sylhet city.
The RAB has a long record of killing people in custody. On 13 November 2009, Lutfar and Khairul Khalashi were arrested by the RAB; the following day family members organised a press briefing in which they urged the authorities to ensure that they would not be killed while in custody. But two days later, on November 16, 2009, RAB announced that both had been killed in a so-called shoot-out, or “crossfire,” with a RAB patrol team the same morning. RAB provided no credible explanation for the killings. When the High Court issued a ruling the next day directing the authorities to explain the deaths, the law officer at RAB headquarters denied that any shoot-out had occurred at all, contradicting its previous announcement. [Vide “Crossfire” https:/ /www.hrw.org/ report /2011/05/10/ crossfire/ continued-human-rights

 

[Banglar Bir]

https://thewire.in/121675/bangladesh-extra-judicial-killings/

Recording of Bangladesh Paramilitary Officer Lifts Lid on Extra-Judicial Killings and Disappearances
BY DAVID BERGMAN ON 06/04/2017 •
“Everyone is not an expert on forced disappearances. We have to make sure no clue is left behind,” the Rapid Action Battalion officer has been quoted as saying.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in their distinctive black attire, stand guard on a street in Dhaka. Credit: Reuters/Files

Dhaka: A secret recording of a senior officer employed by Bangladesh’s paramilitary organisation, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), has added pressure on the government to come clean on its use of enforced disappearances, torture and extra-judicial killings.

In the recording, obtained and authenticated by Swedish National Radio, which broadcast the story on Monday (April 3), the RAB officer talks about how the organisation routinely picks people up, kills them and disposes off their bodies.

Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallström condemned the practices. “There is only one thing to say about this: that it’s horrific and that it must stop and that Bangladesh must take responsibility for this.”

“We will act, in particular via the EU, but also through our bilateral contacts, to make it completely clear that this is not acceptable, and must stop immediately,” she said.

The report comes a week after the UN Human Rights Committee published a report criticising the Bangladesh government for its “reported high rate of extra-judicial killings by police officers, soldiers and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) force members and the reported enforced disappearances, as well as the excessive use of force by State actors.”

The UN committee went onto say that, it “is further concerned by the lack of investigations and accountability of perpetrators, leaving families of victims without information and redress.”

Since the Awami League came to power in 2009, human rights organisation Odhikar has identified over 325 people who were picked up and secretly detained for various degrees of time, allegedly by one of the country’s law enforcement bodies, including the RAB. After weeks or months in unlawful detention, the men are then either ‘shown arrested’ or killed. Out of the more than 90 people secretly detained in 2016, 22 dead bodies have been found.


In relation to extra-judicial killings – which happened in even greater numbers under previous governments – since 2009, Odhikar reports nearly 1,300 deaths.


Earlier this month, Anisul Huq, the Bangladesh law minister, told the UN’s Human Rights Committee that, “With regard to allegations of ‘extra-judicial killings’, ‘enforced disappearances’ and ‘torture in custody’. I would like to stress that our government has taken meaningful actions to bring such incidents of human rights violations to a very low level.”

Other government representatives claim that all the extra-judicial killings are lawful and that state bodies are not involved in any of the alleged disappearances. “Those who died during the gunfights with police and other security forces as well as during police raids are criminals. Their deaths can’t be defined as extra-judicial killings,” Hasanul Haq Inu, the country’s information minister, recently said.

In the Swedish Radio recording, the unnamed senior RAB officer, who was unaware that his conversation was being taped, said that there were three aspects to an enforced disappearance: the capture, the killing and the disposal.

“Everyone is not an expert on forced disappearances,” the officer is reported by Swedish radio to have said. “We have to make sure no clue is left behind. No ID cards that slip-off. We have to wear gloves; we can’t leave footprints behind and have to wear covers on our shoes to prevent that. We can’t smoke during these operations.”

The officer talks about how some of the picked up men are tortured. According to Swedish Radio, the officer “describes a dark room with a lamp in the middle where an arrested man was stripped naked. They hung him in handcuffs, and tied bricks to his testicles. His testicles were almost ripped off by the weight, the officer says. The tortured man fell unconscious and the RAB officer says he did not know if the man was dead or alive.”

In the recordings obtained by the radio station, the RAB officer is said to have claimed that dead bodies of the men who are killed are disposed of by throwing them into a river with blocks of concrete attached to their bodies. He says the fate of the men is decided by “high ups”.

This description of the disposal matches what happened to seven men who were picked up and killed by the RAB in April 2014, in a dispute between local leaders of the governing Awami League belonging to the district of Naranganj, close to the country’s capital city of Dhaka. A few days later their bloated bodies floated to the surface of the Shitalakkya river where they had been dumped. In January this year, a court convicted 35 people of involvement in the murders, sentencing 26 of them, including three former RAB officers, to death.

No other recent disappearances – including those of 19 opposition activists picked up in the capital city of Dhaka over a two week period four months earlier – has resulted in similar investigation or prosecution.

The Swedish Radio recording of the RAB officer is the first time that a media organisation has managed to record a conversation in which a Bangladeshi law enforcement officer has admitted to their involvement in disappearances and extra-judicial killings.

RAB’s legal and media wing director, Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan, denied the allegations contained in the secret recording. He told Bangladesh’s national newspaper Prothom Alo that “RAB do nothing going against legal provision. …Those who have been killed in RAB’s crossfire so far are armed notorious terrorists, robbers and militants. When drives are conducted to arrest them, they open fire on RAB. And RAB also open fires in self-defence,” he added. ‘Things are not as though only terrorists were killed in the RAB shooting; RAB officers and members were also killed and maimed.”

The Swedish public broadcaster is unwilling to provide any information on how it managed to undertake or obtain the recording of the conversation due to the ‘sensitivity’ of the matter and the need to protect their sources. In addition, at present, it is not willing to provide a transcript or copy of the recording.

David Bergman is a writer based in Bangladesh. He also runs the Bangladesh Politico and Bangladesh War Crimes blogs. Follow him on @davidbangladesh.

 

[idune]

Where are all awami cheer leaders who were celebrating and chest thumping RAB and police killings in Bangladesh?

 

[Saiful Islam]

Such terrorist mentality like yours only exists in awami league, party that stand on blood of Bangladeshis. Just like Sheikh Mujib boasted killing Siraj Sikder and thousands of JSD members and freedom fighters.

Difference with RAB between 2006 and today is that -
in 2006 it was primarily hunting terrorist like Sheikh Abdur Rahman.

And toady awami league uses RAB to abduct and kill innocent people, political activists and people with Islamic faith who protests awami league hindutva imposition. Just like Shpla Chattar genocide in 2014 awami league committed using RAB, BGB and police.

RAB = SHW personal murder squad.

 

[Banglar Bir]

UN blasts Bangladesh over extrajudicial killings.

Shakhawat Hossain

The United Nations has criticised Bangladesh’s government in a new report for a “high rate” of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, as well as “excessive use of force by state actors”. The report’s publication on March 28 came a month after the United Nations Working Group on Involuntary and Enforced Disappearances called on the government to “immediately reveal the whereabouts” of three sons of opposition leaders it says were kidnapped six months earlier.

The UN Human Rights Committee - which comprises independent experts who monitor states’ compliance with their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - also called on the Bangladesh government to repeal or amend various laws that restrict freedom of expression and legalise certain child marriages.

Concern over missing politicians’ sons
Referring to the recently published UN report, David Bergman of Aljajeera in his report said: “One week later, one of the men, Hummam Quader Chowdhury, was released on the streets of the capital Dhaka, but the other two - lawyer Mir Ahmed bin Quasem and Brigadier-General Abdullahil Amaan al-Azmi - reportedly remain in secret state detention.’’

Chowdhury, Quasem and Azmi are linked to either the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party or Jamaat-e-Islami, and each of their fathers has been convicted and executed by the International Crimes Tribunal, says the report.
Bangladesh ratified the international convention in 2000, but various governments failed until 2015 to furnish the committee with a compliance report, which had been due a year after ratification. In its official response to the criticism, the Bangladesh government wrote to the committee stating the “country context, realities and the limitations of Bangladesh may not have been adequately appreciated” by the committee. It added efforts by the government in seeking to implement the convention “might not have been recognised enough”.

The government also said discussions the committee held with Bangladesh’s Law Minister Anisul Huq earlier in the month were “not duly reflected in the concluding observations”. In its report, the UN committee said the Bangladesh government must “investigate all cases of arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, and excessive use of force, prosecute and if convicted, punish the perpetrators with appropriate sanctions, and provide full reparation to the victims”.

In relation to disappearances, the UN committee said the government “should establish the truth about the fate and the whereabouts of the victims, and ensure that victims of enforced disappearance and their relatives are informed about the outcome of the investigation”.

‘Establish the truth’
“Our government has taken meaningful actions to bring such incidents of human rights violations to a very low level,” Huq said in a statement to the UN committee. He also said the government “maintains zero-tolerance approach with respect to any crime committed by the law enforcement agencies”.

Since the current Awami League government came to power in 2009, human rights organisations in Bangladesh have identified more than 1,300 alleged extrajudicial killings and 325 enforced disappearances. Similar high levels of killings were also reported under the previous Bangladesh Nationalist Party government.

The UN committee also criticised the arrest of at least 35 journalists, secular bloggers, and human rights defenders in 2016 under the Information and Communications Technology Act 2006. The committee also raised concerns about the government’s recently enacted child marriage law, which allows girls under the age of 18 to get married in “special circumstances”.

The UN experts said the government should amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act “to maintain the legal minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years, in accordance with international norms, without any exceptions”

71 killed in custody or ‘crossfire’
Meanwhile on Friday last, human right watch dog Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) released this year’s quarterly report on human rights situation in Bangladesh, which also painted a grim picture of human right abuses in the country. The report was prepared based on reports published in nine newspapers and information collected by the ASK ASK report reveals that as many as 71 people were killed in the past three months either in incidents of ‘crossfire’ or in law enforcers’ custody. According to the report, 44 people were reported killed in incidents of ‘crossfire’ in which Rapid Action Battalion, police and detective police claimed to have exchanged gunfire with criminals.

Of the rest of the victims, twelve were allegedly shot dead, and two tortured to death by law enforcers. At least 12 custodial deaths were reported to have taken place during the same period, the ASK report added.
Apart from these deaths, the newspapers during the same period also reported that 25 people were picked up by men claiming to be law enforcers in plain cloth. The body of one of them was later found dumped. Only four returned home while the rest are still missing. The law enforcers, however, rejected their involvement in any of these incidents.
There were 114 incidents of rape, in five of which the victims were killed. One of the victims committed suicide. There were 187 incidents of child repression. Sixteen of the victims are still missing.

Disappearances rise in March
At least 21 people disappeared and 20 others were killed after being picked up by law enforcers or men claiming to be law enforcers in the last month alone, revealed the monthly human rights report of Odhikar last Sunday.
Incidents of enforced disappearance occurred three times more compared to such incidents in January and February combined, the report said. Seven people became victims of enforced disappearance in the first two months of the year.

The Odhikar, a rights body, says it counts as a case an incident of enforced disappearance only when someone goes missing after being picked up by law enforcers or men claiming to be law enforcers and its monthly report counts cases reported in newspapers and complaints submitted to it by victims.
Of the 20 extrajudicial killing victims, 19 were killed in incidents of ‘crossfire’ or ‘gunfight’ or ‘encounters’ in which law enforcers claimed to have engaged in gunfights with criminals in retaliation for being attacked. One person was allegedly tortured to death by the police.

The Odhikar report also stated that the law enforcers continued to be engaged in extrajudicial killings due to a culture of impunity retained in the society by the government in order to suppress opponents or dissidents.
At least eight people were killed in incidents of public lynching in March, marking a steady rise of such occurrences over the previous two months, when four people were killed. At least 20 women faced violence over dowry while 62 more were raped during the month, according to the report.

 

[Banglar Bir]

PM asks RAB not to harass people

Special Correspondent

PM sheikh Hasina addressing a ‘Darbar’ at Kurmitola RAB Forces Headquarters marking the 13th founding anniversary of the elite force.
Urging the RAB members to obey the rules of the law, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said they should efficiently discharge duties with utmost responsibility, professionalism, patriotism and honesty keeping in mind that they are members of a disciplinary force.
“Moral turpitude may weaken the mentality of any force. You should always remember that you are the servant of the people. So you have to remain careful so that people are not harassed by your actions in anyway,” she said while addressing a ‘Darbar’ at Kurmitola RAB Forces Headquarters marking the 13th founding anniversary of the elite force.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal attended the function as the special guest and director general (DG) of RAB Benazir Ahmed spoke, among others, on the occasion. PM’s Security Advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiqui, Inspector General of Police M Shahidul Haq and senior civil and military officials attended the function.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of the Bangladesh Police, was formed in 2004, comprising members of the Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Ansar.
Since then the force is performing its duties in maintaining law and order, combating terrorism and holding various national programmes peacefully in addition to drive against pirates in the Sundarbans mangrove forests and curbing human trafficking.
On her arrival at the RAB headquarters, the prime minister was given guard of honour by Rab Forces Honour Guard.
“Members of a force must maintain discipline and obey the order of the higher authorities,” the prime minister said, adding that “your salaries and other allowances are paid by the people. So, they should not be subjected to harassment in anyway.”
“Your main task is to ensure security of the public life and property,” Sheikh Hasina said hoping that the RAB members should be guided and discharging their duties as dictated by the laws, rules and principles.
Praising the role of RAB in combating militancy and terrorism, the prime minister said the soil of Bangladesh, which was liberated at the cost of blood of millions of martyrs, would not be allowed to be used for any militant or terror activities.
Like the past, the prime minister said, the RAB members would effectively play their role in future to make the public life and property safe and secured being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation.
Sheikh Hasina said the RAB has immense success in maintaining law and order. The force is playing a pioneering role in the drives against all kinds of crimes including recovering illegal arms, combating terrorism, militancy and different outlawed groups.
The prime minister said her government in the last eight years has taken extensive measures for development of the elite force. New battalions were created and their infrastructural development and benefits were increased manifolds. Since the 2015 fiscal year the budget of the force has almost been doubled.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has acquired land for RAB headquarters, training school and all battalions. The ECNEC has approved the infrastructure development project of RAB. Acquisition of modern equipments has been completed to enhance its capacity of identifying criminals, collecting finger print and telephone set tracking.
The prime minister said the government has allocated necessary budget to procure two helicopters for RAB to enhance its operational capacity. Now the RAB has acquired capacity of carrying out its operations on the ground, water and air, making it a three-dimensional force, she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said law and order and peaceful situation are foremost prerequisites to take forward the country economically.
“Smooth law and order is important to build up confidence in people to dream of a prosperous future,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu put Bangladesh on the right track of development in post independence war ravaged Bangladesh launching a massive reconstruction campaign.
But, she said, after his brutal assassination the country virtually lost its desire to prosper and the course of its progress became stalled and the nation was lost from the track becoming a dignified nation in the world comity.
Sheikh Hasina said for 21 years Bangladesh was ruled by the military dictators and their legions in a very disgraceful manner.
The country regained its hope in 1996 when Awami League assumed power and moved on a planned economic and political programme to set the country on the road of development again.
“People of Bangladesh are now reaping the benefits of the good governance of the Awami League . . . with everybody’s support including the law enforcement agencies and government organizations’ the Awami League has made the country a role model of development in the last eight years,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina particularly appreciated the law enforcement agencies saying their performance helped Bangladesh to be on the track of development.
She said the security forces took a steadfast stance against terrorism and militancy which has posed a threat not only for Bangladesh but also for the whole world.
“Everybody including the law enforcement agencies, their intelligence units and armed forces are working very sincerely and with devotion against the militants and terrorists,” the premier said.
And in delivering their services, she said, many members of the law enforcing agencies embraced martyrdom, the prime minister noted.
Sheikh Hasina said she never considers the public expenditure for law enforcing agencies as a “spending but investment”.
“That is why our government is not reluctant to allocate necessary budget for their development,” the premier said.
Praising the recent operation of RAB at Atiya Mohal in Sylhet she said RAB has successfully cleared the building off explosives.
She also acclaimed RAB initiatives that saw surrender of a number of extremists and pirate groups in Sundarbans.
“Their surrender has made the mangrove forest safer than ever for tourists and people in the neighbourhood who are dependent on the forest for their livelihood,” Sheikh Hasina said.
Later the Prime Minister inaugurated the newly constructed building of the RAB-9.

 

[Loafer]

Now these same guys will commit another peelkhana. Bangladesh is just like a Somalia.

 

[Nilgiri]

PM asks RAB not to harass people

Special Correspondent

PM sheikh Hasina addressing a ‘Darbar’ at Kurmitola RAB Forces Headquarters marking the 13th founding anniversary of the elite force.
Urging the RAB members to obey the rules of the law, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said they should efficiently discharge duties with utmost responsibility, professionalism, patriotism and honesty keeping in mind that they are members of a disciplinary force.
“Moral turpitude may weaken the mentality of any force. You should always remember that you are the servant of the people. So you have to remain careful so that people are not harassed by your actions in anyway,” she said while addressing a ‘Darbar’ at Kurmitola RAB Forces Headquarters marking the 13th founding anniversary of the elite force.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal attended the function as the special guest and director general (DG) of RAB Benazir Ahmed spoke, among others, on the occasion. PM’s Security Advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiqui, Inspector General of Police M Shahidul Haq and senior civil and military officials attended the function.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of the Bangladesh Police, was formed in 2004, comprising members of the Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Ansar.
Since then the force is performing its duties in maintaining law and order, combating terrorism and holding various national programmes peacefully in addition to drive against pirates in the Sundarbans mangrove forests and curbing human trafficking.
On her arrival at the RAB headquarters, the prime minister was given guard of honour by Rab Forces Honour Guard.
“Members of a force must maintain discipline and obey the order of the higher authorities,” the prime minister said, adding that “your salaries and other allowances are paid by the people. So, they should not be subjected to harassment in anyway.”
“Your main task is to ensure security of the public life and property,” Sheikh Hasina said hoping that the RAB members should be guided and discharging their duties as dictated by the laws, rules and principles.
Praising the role of RAB in combating militancy and terrorism, the prime minister said the soil of Bangladesh, which was liberated at the cost of blood of millions of martyrs, would not be allowed to be used for any militant or terror activities.
Like the past, the prime minister said, the RAB members would effectively play their role in future to make the public life and property safe and secured being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation.
Sheikh Hasina said the RAB has immense success in maintaining law and order. The force is playing a pioneering role in the drives against all kinds of crimes including recovering illegal arms, combating terrorism, militancy and different outlawed groups.
The prime minister said her government in the last eight years has taken extensive measures for development of the elite force. New battalions were created and their infrastructural development and benefits were increased manifolds. Since the 2015 fiscal year the budget of the force has almost been doubled.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has acquired land for RAB headquarters, training school and all battalions. The ECNEC has approved the infrastructure development project of RAB. Acquisition of modern equipments has been completed to enhance its capacity of identifying criminals, collecting finger print and telephone set tracking.
The prime minister said the government has allocated necessary budget to procure two helicopters for RAB to enhance its operational capacity. Now the RAB has acquired capacity of carrying out its operations on the ground, water and air, making it a three-dimensional force, she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said law and order and peaceful situation are foremost prerequisites to take forward the country economically.
“Smooth law and order is important to build up confidence in people to dream of a prosperous future,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu put Bangladesh on the right track of development in post independence war ravaged Bangladesh launching a massive reconstruction campaign.
But, she said, after his brutal assassination the country virtually lost its desire to prosper and the course of its progress became stalled and the nation was lost from the track becoming a dignified nation in the world comity.
Sheikh Hasina said for 21 years Bangladesh was ruled by the military dictators and their legions in a very disgraceful manner.
The country regained its hope in 1996 when Awami League assumed power and moved on a planned economic and political programme to set the country on the road of development again.
“People of Bangladesh are now reaping the benefits of the good governance of the Awami League . . . with everybody’s support including the law enforcement agencies and government organizations’ the Awami League has made the country a role model of development in the last eight years,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina particularly appreciated the law enforcement agencies saying their performance helped Bangladesh to be on the track of development.
She said the security forces took a steadfast stance against terrorism and militancy which has posed a threat not only for Bangladesh but also for the whole world.
“Everybody including the law enforcement agencies, their intelligence units and armed forces are working very sincerely and with devotion against the militants and terrorists,” the premier said.
And in delivering their services, she said, many members of the law enforcing agencies embraced martyrdom, the prime minister noted.
Sheikh Hasina said she never considers the public expenditure for law enforcing agencies as a “spending but investment”.
“That is why our government is not reluctant to allocate necessary budget for their development,” the premier said.
Praising the recent operation of RAB at Atiya Mohal in Sylhet she said RAB has successfully cleared the building off explosives.
She also acclaimed RAB initiatives that saw surrender of a number of extremists and pirate groups in Sundarbans.
“Their surrender has made the mangrove forest safer than ever for tourists and people in the neighbourhood who are dependent on the forest for their livelihood,” Sheikh Hasina said.
Later the Prime Minister inaugurated the newly constructed building of the RAB-9.

@BDforever @Philia @Doyalbaba @bd_4_ever

your opinions?

@Loki you still here?

 

[Mage]

@BDforever @Philia @Doyalbaba @bd_4_ever

your opinions?

@Loki you still here?

Hasina you see is a shrewd politician. I think it's good that she asked RAB not to harass normal people. RAB has ben quite successful in cracking down the terrorists. And they have also helped Hasina to consolidate her power. Apparently RAB was formed by BNP govt in their last reign. But it is also true that some RAB officials harass people for money. They sometimes arrest someone and ask him to pay otherwise he'll be thrown to jail on false accusations. Which should be stopped. However like I said RAB plays a huge role to keep Hasina reign freely. So taking a stance against them is hard even for her. But if she can do something under the radar then it's all good.

 

[Nilgiri]

Hasina you see is a shrewd politician. I think it's good that she asked RAB not to harass normal people. RAB has ben quite successful in cracking down the terrorists. And they have also helped Hasina to consolidate her power. Apparently RAB was formed by BNP govt in their last reign. But it is also true that some RAB officials harass people for money. They sometimes arrest someone and ask him to pay otherwise he'll be thrown to jail on false accusations. Which should be stopped. However like I said RAB plays a huge role to keep Hasina reign freely. So taking a stance against them is hard even for her. But if she can do something under the radar then it's all good.

Did SHW replace the RAB leadership and high level officers when she took power (or over time since) BTW...like many here have said regarding BD military?

 

[Mage]

Did SHW replace the RAB leadership and high level officers when she took power (or over time since) BTW...like many here have said regarding BD military?

I'm not sure but it is probably true. Whenever a new govt comes to power govt officials are reshuffled. Those who are considered to be loyal to the previous regime are either made OSD(officer in special Duty in other words no duty just collect your salary at the end of the month) or transferred in less important places. Something like this happened to RAB too I guess.

 

[bd_4_ever]

@BDforever @Philia @Doyalbaba @bd_4_ever

your opinions?

@Loki you still here?

RAB did not have a great track record for the past few years. Its true that their harassment of people have reached new heights.. especially under Hasina.

The reason is that RAB, along with the military, forms a crucial stakeholder catalyzing Hasina's reign to power. Therefore, she had to provide them with the freedom to operate as they will. But she is a smart lady and realizes that she cannot afford to sway the public against her, more so after the 7-murder case. Thus, I see this as a initial move to strike a status quo between that freedom and their actions.

Its imperative that we need RAB to function well as it works as a killing machine when it comes to Anti-Terror Operations. That is the kind of attitude we need here to keep these extremists in control. However, they also need to refurbish their civil actions against the public.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Not surprising considering how much BNP used RAB to kill whomever they pleased.