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Download PDF The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has apparently been careful in the last one year to improve its image marred greatly at home and abroad because of the huge number of deaths in “crossfire” as such extra-judicial killings have reduced significantly during the period.
Thirty-four incidents of crossfire took place since June 2007 while the figure was 179 during the 10 months from August 2006 to May 2007.
Rab officials said for the first time since its inception there was no incident of crossfire throughout the month of February this year.
A total of 472 alleged criminals have so far been killed in the name of “crossfire” or “encounter” between associates of the criminals and Rab members.
Meanwhile, the elite force, which has made significant achievement in containing the slide in law and order and bringing activities of the Islamist militants under control, steps into the fifth year today with new commitment to play more successful role to curb crime and ensure people’s security by introducing more modern technology and equipment.
Sources said the initiative to restore the Rab’s image was taken in the wake of strong criticism by the human rights groups both at home and abroad for the extra-judicial killings.
Former adviser and Executive Director of Ain o Salish Kendra Sultana Kamal said, “Death in so-called crossfire is unconstitutional and whatever the number it is a matter of grave concern to me as a right activist.”
The US Department of State in its annual report “Human Rights Practices 2007″ on Bangladesh also said security forces including Bangladesh Rifles, military and Rab committed numerous extra-judicial killings while the government did not take any action or initiate any public measure to investigate the cases.
The report, however, observed that there was a significant decrease in the number of such extra-judicial killings by security personnel.
Rab Director General Hassan Mahmood Khandkar also said incidents of crossfire came down significantly as law and order has been under control since January 11.
Recently the Rab organised a human rights training workshop for its officers in cooperation with the British High Commission in Dhaka to make them more aware of human rights.
The Rab authority is planning to make the force three-dimensional by expanding its operational capacity by introducing two helicopters and several vessels for waterways. Rab officials said they will also add new equipment to gather intelligence information of offenders to arrest them. A move is also on to set up a forensic laboratory to carry out investigation into cases.
The force has so far taken punitive measures against its 535 members for anti-disciplinary activities and around 200 of them either lost their jobs or suffered jail.
The Rab emerged on March 26, 2004 through participating in the Independence Day parade and started its formal operation of ensuring security for the Pahela Baishakh celebration on April 14 that year.
They conducted a raid that day to arrest listed top criminal Pichchi Hannan who was later killed during an “encounter” between his accomplices and the Rab.
The Rab started with its headquarters and seven battalions and with 5,521 personnel drawn from the army, navy, air force, police, coast guard and ansar. Now it has nine wings at its headquarters and 12 battalions and its present manpower is 8,727.
Arrest of militants including executed Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) kingpins Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai and controlling their activities, arrest of Harkatul Jihad (Huji) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and his associates and recovering grenades and bombs from their possessions were the most significant successes of the force.
Fearful of Rab’s operations many listed top criminals fled the country to evade arrest.
The Rab has also successfully controlled the spread of deadly drug Yaba.
The arrests of militants led to the unearthing of the mystery of many important grenade attacks including the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally, Ramna Batamul blast, attack on Udichi programme in Jessore and the attack on the British high commissioner to Bangladesh in Sylhet.
The Rab has so far arrested 30,993 suspected criminals, recovered 4,044 different types of firearms and 53,874 bullets, 3,652 explosive devices, homemade bombs, grenades, and 3,182kg explosives.
The force arrested the highest number of 463 leaders and activists of the banned Islamist organisation JMB and 38 members of other militant outfits. They seized 58 firearms, 386 bullets, 115 grenade and bombs, 333 grenade shells, 1,723kg explosives and 8,997 electronic detonators from the militants’ possession.
Rab members also seized around 1.44 lakh Yaba tablets, 5,000 ice pills used as an alternative to Yaba, 111kg heroin and around 5.5 lakh bottles and 2,000 litres of phensydile.
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