HRW call for disbanding of RAB ‘unwanted’:Daily Sun

  The government has termed ‘unwanted’ a recommendation of Human Rights Watch to formally disband the embattled elite crime-combating organisation, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The rights watchdog on Sunday sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and recommended that the government disband the crime-busting agency. The red-hot issue was raised during a meeting on law and order of the cabine
t committee on Monday. Sources and the meeting outright rejected the HRW proposal and raised questions over poking its nose into the country’s internal affairs. After the meeting, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, who heads the committee, said the government did not like such recommendations from the watchdog. “It’s an internal affair and isn’t their business,” he told reporters. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, who constituted the force during her regime, raised voices to disband RAB after the killing of seven people in Narayanganj. In reaction to the demand, the premier also said that it was impossible to disband the force suddenly. The US-based watchdog said RAB killed over 800 persons after its inception in 2004. “The Bangladesh government has promised to reform RAB and hold the force accountable, but it has utterly failed,” said HRW Asia director Brad Adams in an open letter to the premier. “Lack of accountability has allowed Rapid Action Battalion to run amok. RAB is not beyond reform and should swiftly be abolished,” he mentioned. The rights body said the action battalion has been operated as a death squad. Shrugging aside the proposal, RAB additional director general Ziaul Hasan asked the watchdog to concentrate on the mass killings in Gaza Strip. “Hundreds of civilians, including women and children, are being killed in Gaza during air raids by Israel. The human rights body should put highest importance to protest the offensive right now,” he told a news agency. Meanwhile, Amu said a significant progress has been made over seven murders in Narayanganj and Ekram killing in Feni. “The [cabinet] committee has asked the ministry to speed up the investigation process.” The government directed all concerned to remain alert so that Mirpur-like incident would not occur in future, he added. The committee on law and order also directed law-enforcement agencies to mount vigil across borders to stop drug smuggling. “Directives were given to check diesel smuggling and intrusion of Rohingyas into Bangladesh,” Amu said, adding that lawmen have been asked to conduct drives at district level to stop the use of formalin. The meeting also asked home ministry to transfer the jail officials, who have been staying at same jail for a long time, to avert irregularities. “Some jail officials are involved in irregularities for staying in the same place for long. So, we have decided to transfer some officials.” On BNP’s threat to wage movement after Eid, he said, “We think BNP won’t be able to go for a movement… The government would control any attempt to violate laws with an iron fist.” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Kahn Menon, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu and chiefs of different law-enforcement agencies also attended the meeting.