‘RAB doesn’t abuse human rights, rather protects it’

PBC News:  Rejecting the sanctions including the entry of some officials to the United States, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has claimed that it didn’t violate human rights, rather the RAB works to protect it.

“We heard about the US sections through media. We have not received any official letter regarding it yet. We will take necessary steps to verify it through the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when we receive an official letter,”
said Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Legal and Media Wing of RAB, while addressing a press briefing at RAB Media Centre in the city’s Karwan Bazar on Saturday afternoon.

“We can’t say anything more in this regard until we receive an official letter. We will clarify our position after receiving the letter,” he said

However, Khandaker Al Moin said, “RAB comprises of some 9,000 personnel. Twenty-eight members of the agency including Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad laid down their lives in the line of duty.  Besides, more than 1,000 personnel have lost their limbs to protect human rights and maintain law and order.”

Referring to the RAB’s efforts to make the Sundarbans pirates and criminals free, he said, “It has been possible owing to the success of the elite force. Because of the drives of RAB, extremists’ activities and militancy or terrorism in the northern and southern parts of the country have come down to almost zero.”

Refuting the allegations of crossfire, Al Moin said, “We think we have the right to protect ourselves when we come under attacks. We only retaliate when the criminals fire at us. Twenty-eight members of the force have been martyred in crossfires.”

“There had been a neutral investigation in each shootout. We thoroughly inquired whether the retaliation was appropriate. If it was found inappropriate, RAB always took proper action.”

On Friday, the US State Department imposed sanctions on RAB and seven of its former and current officials, including the current Inspector General of Police (IGP) and former RAB director general (DG) Benazir Ahmed.

It linked them to the “extrajudicial” killing of Teknaf Municipality councillor Ekramul Huque, during an anti-drug drive in May 2018.

Meanwhile, the Treasury Department designated RAB, Benazir, and five other former and current RAB officials under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, EO 13818 citing “serious human rights abuse relating to their tenures.”