Rapid Action Battalion

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)
Agency overview
Formed 2004–present
Headquarters Kurmitola, Dhaka
Agency executive
  • Benazir Ahmed, Additional IGP
Parent agency Bangladesh Police
Website www.rab.gov.bd

Rapid Action Battalion or RAB is an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of the Bangladesh Police. It consists of members of the Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Ansar. It was formed on 26 March 2004, and commenced operations on 14 April 2004.

Since its inception, the RAB has seized a total of 3,149 illegal arms and more than 36,000 rounds of ammunition, and has made more than 500 arrests.

RAB members.

Location

RAB also has 14 battalion size field units spread all over the country. Among them, 5 are located in the capital Dhaka. The units are located as follows:

Activities

RAB during Pohela Boishakh.

Main activities and types of work done by RAB are:

Counter-Terrorism RAB apprehended numerous terrorism suspects during the course of their tenure.

Anti drugs RAB has been involved in the control of illegal substances such as Yaba, Phensidyle and Heroin.

Emergency help RAB provides immediate response for situations such as armed robbery and kidnappings.

National common or annual needs Many national needs are filled by RAB by providing extra duty during Eid-ul-Fitr, Puja, world Ijtema and Akheri Munazat, among other events. They also contribute resources during elections, such as the Narayangonj City Corporation Election.

Ranks and insignia

Because RAB is composed of officers and troops from Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Armed Forces, it was necessary to attribute a common rank insignia to the RAB badges. Such insignia can be seen in the illustrations below.[1]

Notable arrests

The following is a table containing details of major arrests by the RAB according to their official website:[2]

Name Charge Arrest Source
Mufti Hannan Assassination attempt of the Leader of the Opposition and present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mufti Hannan was a top leader of Harkat-ul-Jihad 1 October 2005
Pichchi Hannan Terrorism 26 June 2004, later killed trying to escape
Debashis Accomplice to Pichchi Hannan killed in crossfire, 24 June 2004
Mollah Shamim 10 cases including three murders killed in crossfire, 6 September 2004
Shaheb Ali Printing of Jihadi leaflets distributed during the 17 August 2005 Bombings 17 September 2005
Shahabuddin Extortion Killed 26 October 2004
Syed Monir Hossain Several criminal offences, including two murders killed in crossfire, 11 March 2005
Shahjahan 5 charges including murder, rape and robbery killed in crossfire, 12 January 2005
Rafiqul Islam Suicide squad member, Narayanganj JMB commander 27 December 2005
Sumon Ahmed Majumder Extortion killed "in crossfire" (see BBC article)
Ekramul Haque Islamic Militancy December 2005
Hasibul 16 cases including 12 murder cases 26 January 2005, later killed attempting to escape
Names Unknown Weapon Creators, Killed over 10 People Squadron Leader Sabbir Ahmed Khan and his friends caught the gang in May 2009

Criticisms

Although the RAB has been successful in apprehending several high-profile terrorists, including the infamous Bangla Bhai, Human Rights Watch has accused RAB of numerous deaths, which have been attributed to crossfire.[3][4] In March 2010, the battalion leader claimed 622 deaths were due to 'crossfire', while some human rights organisations claimed that more than 1,000 extrajudicial killings were the product of the battalion.[5] Further, there have been many reports of torture in connection with the battalion's activities.[6][7]

Limon Hossain, a college student at Jamaddarhat at Rajapur Upazila in Jhalakati, was shot at by RAB personnel near his house on 23 March 2011, triggering local and international outcry. His left leg had to be amputated as a result. The battalion filed two cases that day with the Rajapur police implicating Limon in an arms case and accusing him of obstructing police duties.[8] The government finally decided to withdraw the cases against Limon on 9 July 2013, citing his need to return to a "healthy and normal life".[9]

Enforced disappearances

Families of the victims and witnesses blamed RAB for picking up 83 people while detective branch for 38, ‘law enforcers’ for 55 and plainclothes men for 20 others reported between January 2007 and August 2014, according to a report by human rights organisation Ain-o-Shalish Kendro (ASK). The report also said that at least 70 leaders and activists of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami fell victim to enforced disappearance while 37 others were activists of ruling Awami League.[10]

On 5 February 2012 approximately at 1.00 a.m. Al Mukaddas (22), 4th year student of the Department of Al Fiqah and Mohammad Waliullah (23), a Masters candidate of Dawah and Islamic Studies Department of Islamic University, were allegedly arrested and disappeared by some persons who identified themselves as RAB-4 and DB Police members from Savar. Both were members of the Islamic student organization Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir and were allegedly detained by members of the RAB and the Detective Branch (DB) of the Bangladesh Police on 4 February 2012. They have not been heard from since and their whereabouts are unknown. The RAB has denied detaining the two men in a statement to a Bangladeshi newspaper. However, reports from several sources and a pattern of disappearances thought to have been conducted by RAB in recent months cast doubt on RAB's denial.[11]

On 5 April 2013 at around 2:25am, members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) -5 arrested Mr. Mohammad Anwarul Islam (28) the son of Mohammad Israil and Mosammat Nurjahan Begum of Angariapara village in Chapainawabganj from house number 175 of Bil-Shimla Moholla under Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi district. Later, when family members contacted the RAB-5 office, RAB notified that Anwarul had never been arrested by them. An allegation of enforced disappearance was brought against the members of RAB by Anwarul’s family members.

Upon inquiry, it was found that Anwarul was a last year Master’s student of Mathematics department of Rajshahi College. Moreover, he was the Office Secretary of the Islami Chattra Shibir of Rajshahi district.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "About RAB: Rank". Rapid Action Battalion. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "RAB Achievements". Rapid Action Battalion. 28 February 2007. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007.
  3. ↑ "'Top Bangladeshi militant' held". BBC News. 6 March 2006.
  4. ↑ "World Report 2012: Bangladesh: Events of 2011". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "WikiLeaks: U.K. trained Bangladeshi 'death squad'". NBC News. 21 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Death of Youth in Rab Action". The Daily Star. 21 May 2007.
  7. ↑ "Rapid Action Battalion won't be used for political purpose". Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation. 18 February 2005.
  8. ↑ "Bangladesh: Rapid Action Battalion shot innocent college student into permanent disability and now threatening sympathizers to kill extra-judicially". Asian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Govt decides to withdraw cases against Limon". New Age. Dhaka. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  10. ↑ Muktadir Rashid (30 August 2014). "The List grows Longer". New Age. Dhaka. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bangladesh: Enforced disappearance of Messrs. Al Mukaddas and Mohammad Waliullah". World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). 23 May 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Arrest and enforced disappearance of Mohammad Anwarul Islam by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members". Odhikar. Retrieved 31 August 2014.

Further reading

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