Propaganda is being spread against RAB: Kamal

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said that propaganda is being spread against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) despite its important role against drug smuggling and militant activities, reports BSS.

“Those who had created the RAB during their regime now dislike the anti-crime elite forces despite its positive role against drug smuggling, food adulteration, piracy and extremism,” he said while replying to a question from reporters after speaking at a working session of the DC conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here.

The RAB has been working to control militancy and terrorism in the country, he said, adding that it is an injustice that the elite force is facing negative criticisms.

“We can say with a challenge that there is no country in the world where attacks and counter-attacks do not take place,” he said.

Kamal said that police would not remain silent when someone picks up a weapon and fire to them.

Counter firing from police will take place as part of their safety, he added.

Meanwhile, 12 human rights organisations have called the United Nations to ban RAB from peacekeeping missions on ground of human rights violations.

The organisations made the demand in a letter to UN under-secretary-general Jean-Pierre Lacroix sent privately on 8 November, 2021.

The letter was made public today, according to a media release of HRW.

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations has yet to provide a formal response to the letter, the HRW added.

Earlier on 10 December, US departments of state and treasury imposed sanctions on seven current and former officials of RAB alleging the Bangladeshi elite force of involvement with grave human rights violations.