RAB, short for Rapid Action Battalion, stands as a formidable anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit within the Bangladesh Police. Since its establishment on March 26, 2004, under the name of RAT (Rapid Action Team), it has comprised skilled personnel from the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Ansar. However, behind its commendable achievements lies a darker side that demands closer scrutiny.
Over the years, RAB has garnered attention for capturing prominent terrorists, including the notorious Bangla Bhai. Yet, these accomplishments have been overshadowed by alarming allegations from the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW). According to HRW, RAB members have been involved in extrajudicial killings, with women and children falling victim during public protests, earning the unit the reputation of a “death squad.” Reports suggest that RAB’s actions have resulted in numerous deaths, often attributed to “crossfire” incidents. While RAB leaders claim that 622 deaths in March 2010 were the result of crossfire, human rights groups assert that over 1,000 extrajudicial killings can be attributed to the unit. Moreover, multiple reports of torture have been associated with RAB’s activities.
A report by the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) highlights another troubling aspect. Between January 2007 and August 2014, families of victims and witnesses accused RAB of being responsible for the disappearance of 83 individuals. During the same period, the detective branch, “law enforcers,” and plainclothes personnel were blamed for the disappearance of 38, 55, and 20 people, respectively.
The widespread abuses attributed to RAB have been extensively documented by human rights organizations, while concerns raised by UN human rights experts have further emphasized the gravity of the situation. Yet, rather than embarking on a path of reform, the Bangladeshi government has chosen to deny and retaliate against human rights defenders and victims’ families in response to the US sanctions announcement.
Disturbingly, families of enforced disappearance victims have come forward with harrowing accounts of officers arriving at their residences, issuing threats, and coercing them into signing false statements denying forced disappearance, thereby intentionally misleading the authorities. Even more concerning is the fact that RAB commanders allegedly involved in serious human rights violations, such as forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture, have received promotions and rewards instead of being held accountable. Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia director of Human Rights Watch, publicly criticized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed for her inaction, further highlighting the need for international action to address the widespread abuses and ensure justice for the victims.
On December 10, 2021, the United States government designated RAB as a “foreign entity responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuse” under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. In response, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on six current and former RAB commanders, while the US State Department implemented visa restrictions against two former commanders. These sanctions have reignited demands for the United Nations to prohibit the deployment of RAB members in peacekeeping operations.
Human rights activist Nur Khan Liton stressed the urgency of sanctions to protect lives, emphasizing the multitude of incidents where individuals have fallen victim to crossfire or disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Deep-rooted issues, such as trade-offs between the government and RAB, as well as the suppression of dissenting voices to secure or maintain power in a politically challenging environment, contribute to the prevalence of torture and subsequent impunity.
Violating human rights and corruption erodes the fundamental principles crucial for the stability, security, and proper functioning of societies. These grave transgressions inflict severe harm on individuals, weaken democratic systems, undermine the rule of law, prolong violent conflicts, aid the actions of hazardous individuals, and destabilize economic markets. As the world observes, the responsibility to address these grave injustices falls upon us all. It is imperative to unite globally, standing shoulder to shoulder in our shared pursuit of a world where justice prevails, and every individual can flourish.
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