May 13, 2011 bdnews24.com

Paramilitary force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was formed in March 2004 with the commitment to root out terrorism.

* It’s mission is to “prevent crime and apprehend criminals”.

* “Bangladesh is my pride” is the motto of all RAB members.

* Capabilities of the elite force are ensuring internal security, carrying out government assignments, detaining armed gangs of criminals and recovery of unauthorised arms, gathering intelligence on crimes and assisting other law enforcing agencies.

Limit Crossed!

* The just-published Human Rights Watch report claims nearly 200 people have been killed in RAB operations since the Awami League government came to power on Jan 6, 2009. The government, however, has always been denying the allegation. RAB website has no account of killing.

* The website reads, in the years 2009 and 2010, the force apprehended 44,241 people — criminals, extortionists, robbers, kidnappers — and recovered 2,821 different weapons.

* Apart from criminal suspects, RAB arrested 162 alleged members of militant Islamists groups.

* Through their anti-drugs campaign, RAB held 12,732 people for involvement with drugs smuggling, peddling and abusing. RAB data shows the significant presence of cocaine, energy-enhancement tablets and injections among those seized along with Phensidyle, alcohols and marijuana.

* RAB was also active against piracy rackets. They detained 397 fake-note makers, 104 sculpture smugglers, 51 illegal VOIP businessmen, 784 for video-piracy and pornography and 9,151 for prostitution.

* Mobile courts led by magistrates of the force hit record by carrying out 2,547 drives and fined around Tk 120 million.

* The just-published Human Rights Watch report claims nearly 200 people have been killed in RAB operations since the Awami League government came to power on Jan 6, 2009. The government, however, has always been denying the allegation. RAB website has no account of killing.