Human Rights Watch wants RAB abolished

The New York-based human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has recommended the abolition of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a specialized unit accused of extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearances.

The organization made the recommendation in a report on Bangladesh’s reforms on Tuesday. The report was titled ‘After the Monsoon Revolution: A Roadmap to Lasting Security Sector Reform in Bangladesh’.

The 50-page report published said that the government should take steps to abolish the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), as recommended by the National Commission of Inquiry. The unit is made up of members of the police and army and has been accused of extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearances on several occasions.

In the wake of the investigation report, RAB chief AKM Shahidur Rahman admitted to the unit’s secret detention centers and said that RAB would accept if the interim government wanted to abolish the unit.

In addition, human rights training has been recommended to all RAB officers so that they do not engage in crimes such as disappearances, killings or crossfires in the future.

The HRW report also said that if structural reforms are not carried out in the law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh, it could undo the hard-earned achievements of the interim government.

Julia Bleckner, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW), told reporters that the law enforcement agencies must be made independent. They must be free from political influence. Starting from their promotions, their appointments must be free from political influence.

According to her, whichever party comes to power, RAB has used it as a tool of torture. Therefore, it is not possible to reform RAB.

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