Rapid Action Battalion
| Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Kurmitola, Dhaka |
| Agency executive | Mukhlesur Rahman, Additional IGP |
| Parent agency | Bangladesh Police |
Rapid Action Battalion or RAB is an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of Bangladesh Police constituted amending the Armed Police Battalion Ordinance, 1979. Under the command of Inspector General of Police (IGP) it consists of members of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Ansar. It was formed on 26 March 2004 and started its operations from 14 April 2004. Additional Inspector General of Police Anwarul Iqbal is the founding Director General of this elite unit.
Since its inception, the RAB has seized a total of 3,149 illegal arms and more than 36,000 rounds of ammunition. It has also had over 500 arrests. Although the RAB has been successful in apprehending several high-profile terrorists, including the infamous Bangla Bhai, Amnesty International has accused RAB of lack of accountability for being responsible for numerous deaths which have been attributed to crossfire.[1][2] In March, 2010, the battalion leader stated that they have killed 622 due to 'crossfire', while some human rights organizations claim that over 1,000 extrajudicial killings are the product of the battalion.[3] There have also been many reports of torture.[4][5]
Contents |
[edit] Weapons
RAB members are better equipped and trained compared to the other units of the Police. The following weapons are standard issue for this unit:
| Name | Type | Caliber | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browning M1911 | Semi-automatic pistol | .45ACP |  United States |
| SIG Sauer P226(or P228 or P229) | Semi-automatic pistol | 9mm |  Germany[verification needed] |
| BD-08 | Assault rifle | 7.62mm |  China |
| Type 56 | Assault rifle | 7.62mm | China |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun | 9mm | Germany |
| Uzi | Submachine gun | 9mm |  Israel |
| Type 85 | Sniper rifle | 7.62mm | China |
| Remington 870 | Semi-automatic shotgun | 12gauge | United States |
| Type 97-1 | Semi-automatic shotgun | 12gauge | China |
| Type 69-1 | Rocket-propelled grenade | 40 mm | China |
Also when employed for crowd control purpose RAB members use traditional weapons like batons and tasers.
[edit] Organization
RAB has the following administrative wings under the RAB HQ:
[edit] Operations Wing
- Planning & Co-ordination
- Dog Squad
- Bomb Disposal Unit
[edit] Intelligence Wing
- Information Gathering
- Undercover Surveillance
- Counter Intelligence
- Communication Interception (Networking)
[edit] Legal & Media Wing
- Legal Cell
- Media Cell
[edit] Communication & MIS Wing
- Internal Communication Network
- Database & Information Services
[edit] Investigation & Forensic Wing
- Investigation Cell
- Forensic Cell
[edit] Air Wing
- Aerial Surveillance & Imaging
- Search & Rescue
- Aerial Patrol
- Counter Terrorism Operations
- Transport Operations
[edit] Admin & Finance Wing
- Administration Section
- Finance & Development Branch
- Personnel & Discipline Branch
- Health Unit
- Central Workshop
- Transport Unit
[edit] Training & Orientation Wing
- Primary Training Course
- Anti-Terrorism Course
- Basic Intelligence Course
- Basic Investigation Course
- Primary Driving Course
- Basic Computer Course
[edit] R & D Wing
- Research & Development Cell
[edit] Location
RAB also has 12 battalion size field units spread all over the country. Among them 5 are located in the capital Dhaka. The units are located as follows:
- RAB-1 : Dhaka
- RAB-2 : Dhaka
- RAB-3 : Dhaka
- RAB-4 : Dhaka
- RAB-5 : Rajshahi
- RAB-6 : Khulna
- RAB-7 : Chittagong
- RAB-8 : Barisal
- RAB-9 : Sylhet
- RAB-10 : Dhaka
- RAB-11 : Narayanganj
- RAB-12 : Sirajganj
[edit] Activities
Main activities and types of work done by RAB are:
Anti Counter terrorism Rab has contributed much in anti terrorism dept. All kind of terrorism has been stopped hard hand by RAB. Like: Included Shayokh Abdur Rahman, "Bnglavai" Mufti Hannan, many terrorists had been arrested by Rab.
Anti Drugs Rab does much to stop Drugs. They searched for those illegal elements like Yaba, Phensidyle, Heroin, Foreign Drinks etc. and destroy them. This obey this duty successfully.
Emergency Help Emergency help for any bad armed people or group like Armed Snatcher or Robber are given by Rab timely.
National Common or annual needs Many national needs are filled by Rab by extra duty for the occasion of EId Day, Puja, world Ijtema and Akheri Munazat and many other things. They contributes much in many Elections. Example: Narayangonj City Corporation Election.
[edit] Notable arrests
Here is a table containing details of major arrests by the RAB according to their official website:[6]
| Name | Charge | Arrest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mufti Hannan | Assassination attempt of the then Leader of the Opposition and present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mufti Hannan was a top leader of Harkat-ul-Jihad | 1 October 2005 | [1] |
| Pichchi Hannan | Terrorism | 26 June 2004, later killed trying to escape | [2] |
| Debashis | Accomplice to Pichchi Hannan | killed in crossfire, 24 June 2004 | [3] |
| Mollah Shamim | 10 cases including three of murder | killed in crossfire, 6 September 2004 | [4] |
| Shaheb Ali | Printing of Jihadi leaflets distributed during the 17 August 2005 Bombings | 17 September 2005 | [5] |
| Shahabuddin | Extortion | Killed 26 October 2004 | [6] |
| Syed Monir Hossain | Several criminal offences, including two murders | killed in crossfire, 11 March 2005 | [7] |
| Shahjahan | 5 charges including murder, rape and robbery | killed in crossfire, January 12, 2005 | [8] |
| Rafiqul Islam | Suicide squad member, Narayanganj JMB commander | 27 December 2005 | [9] |
| Sumon Ahmed Majumder | Extortion | killed "in crossfire" (see BBC article) | [10] |
| Ekramul Haque | Islamic Militancy | December 2005 | [11] |
| Hasibul | 16 cases including 12 murder cases | 26 January 2005, later killed attempting to escape | [12] |
[edit] References
- ^ "'Top Bangladeshi militant' held". BBC News. 6 March 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4777526.stm.
- ^ "Amnesty International Bangladesh Report 2005". Amnesty International. 2005. http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/bgd-summary-eng.[dead link]
- ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40773855/ns/us_news-wikileaks_in_security/
- ^ "Torture marks found on victim's body, protests go on". The Daily Star. 2007-05-21. http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/05/21/d7052101107.htm.
- ^ "Rapid Action Battalion won't be used for political purpose". Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation. 2005-02-18. http://www.unpo.org/article.php?id=1984.
- ^ www.rab.gov.bd
[edit] External links
- Official website of Rapid Action Battalion
- "Bangladesh's feared elite police," BBC Report
- "Blast kills 'Bangladesh militant', BBC Report
- "Top Bangladesh militant captured," BBC Report
- "Bangladesh 'militant leader' held," BBC report
- "'Top Bangladeshi militant' held," BBC Report
- "Getting Away With Murder: Politicisation of Crime in Bangladesh," SAAG
- Fighting lawlessness with lawlessness (or) the rise & rise of the Rapid Action Battalion (Highly Critical)
- LAWLESS LAW-ENFORCEMENT & THE PARODY OF JUDICIARY IN BANGLADESH (Highly Critical)
- Perverted policing & meaningless magistrates: True stories from Bangladesh (Highly Critical)
