By BOB Goswami
BANGLADESH NEWS - The elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has been blamed for series of human right violation, executing extra-judicial killing in the past few years. Human Rights Watch says.
However, Bangladesh's government has strongly dismissed the allegation. The report has unveiled a surprising analysis, saying 200 people have been killed in RAB operations since the new Awami League government leads the nation.
The report also blamed the government for not being proactive against RAB officers or official, who haven't yet received a single punishment award for the killings and gross human rights abuses. However, the government earlier committed that it would see the matter seriously and prosecuted the guilty.
The report also highlighted British forces trained some RAB members, which also confirmed WikiLeaks report. However, British official said it mainly focused on improving interviewing techniques, crime detection methods and investigations.
In its defense, the government says the Rapid Action Battalion acts against criminal activities and death resulted during shoot-outs between law enforcers and criminals.
Manzurul Alam's brother-in-law was shot in 2009, who had no criminal record in police stations.
"Only the RAB personnel told us that he was a criminal. Until now they can't produce any evidence whatsoever... We are still waiting for justice. We are now hopeless," - Manzurul Alam.
Nowadays, RAB officers are ubiquitous in Bangladesh's street dressed in black and fashioned with a bandannas tied around their heads.
Over the years they have developed a ruthless reputation of being reducing crimes and proactive force against Islamist militancy.
However, Bangladesh's government has strongly dismissed the allegation. The report has unveiled a surprising analysis, saying 200 people have been killed in RAB operations since the new Awami League government leads the nation.
The report also blamed the government for not being proactive against RAB officers or official, who haven't yet received a single punishment award for the killings and gross human rights abuses. However, the government earlier committed that it would see the matter seriously and prosecuted the guilty.
The report also highlighted British forces trained some RAB members, which also confirmed WikiLeaks report. However, British official said it mainly focused on improving interviewing techniques, crime detection methods and investigations.
In its defense, the government says the Rapid Action Battalion acts against criminal activities and death resulted during shoot-outs between law enforcers and criminals.
Manzurul Alam's brother-in-law was shot in 2009, who had no criminal record in police stations.
"Only the RAB personnel told us that he was a criminal. Until now they can't produce any evidence whatsoever... We are still waiting for justice. We are now hopeless," - Manzurul Alam.
Nowadays, RAB officers are ubiquitous in Bangladesh's street dressed in black and fashioned with a bandannas tied around their heads.
Over the years they have developed a ruthless reputation of being reducing crimes and proactive force against Islamist militancy.
May 10, 2011 | 2
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