Rapid Action Battalion

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RAB

Rapid Action Battalion or RAB is an anti-crime and anti-terrorism elite force in Bangladesh. It is under the jurisdiction of the Bangladeshi Ministry of Home Affairs. It was formed on 26 March 2004, started its operations from 14 April 2004 and initially, it consisted of members of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force and the Police.

Since its inception, the RAB has seized a total of 1577 illegal arms and 15645 rounds of ammunition. It has also had many notable arrests [1] (See below for a list).

Although the RAB has been successful in apprehending several high-profile terrorists including the infamous Bangla Bhai [2], Amnesty International has criticised the RAB's lack of accountability as it has been reponsible for many deaths which have been attributed to crossfire. [3] There have also been many reports of arbitrary torture.

Despite protests from the main opposition party, the Awami League, the Bangladesh National Party denies that the RAB has been used for political ends. [4]

According to the Daily Star, a Bangladeshi English-language newspaper, concern over extra-judicial killings is exceeded by a desire for law and order thus there is a "fair amount of public support for the Rab". [5]

[edit] Notable Arrests

Here is a table containing details of major arrests by the RAB according to their official website: ^[1]

Name	Charge	Arrest	Source
Mufti Hannan	Assassination attempt of Sheikh Hasina, a top leader of Harkat-ul-Jihad	1 October 2005	[6]
Pichchi Hannan	Terrorism	26 June 2004, later killed trying to escape	[7]
Debashis	Accomplice to Pichchi Hannan	killed in crossfire, 24 June 2004	[8]
Mollah Shamim	10 cases including three of murder	killed in crossfire, 6 September 2004	[9]
Shaheb Ali	Printing of Jihadi leaflets distributed during the 17 August 2005 Bombings	17 September 2005	[10]
Shahabuddin	Extortion	Killed 26 October 2004	[11]
Syed Monir Hossain	Several criminal offences, including two murders	killed in crossfire, 11 March 2005	[12]
Shahjahan	5 charges including murder, rape and robbery	killed in crossfire, January 12 2005	[13]
Rafiqul Islam	Suicide squad member, Narayanganj JMB commander	27 December 2005	[14]
Sumon Ahmed Majumder	Extortion		[15]
Ekramul Haque	'Islamic Militancy'	December 2005	[16]
Hasibul	16 cases including 12 murder cases	26 January 2005, later killed attempting to escape	[17]