Prosecute Rab men

The Bangladesh government should prosecute the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) officers who arrested and tortured FM Masum, a journalist of the daily New Age, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday.

In a statement, the New York-based watchdog said the new government had promised to put an end to abuses by the paramilitary law enforcement agency long implicated in tortures and the extra judicial killings termed "crossfire". But the government is yet to take any action in this regard.

"The Bangladesh government should move from promises to action and finally hold the security forces accountable for their abuses," said Brad Adams, HRW Asia director. "This government needs to show that it is different from its predecessors."

According to a statement Masum made to the HRW and newspapers, some Rab officials had picked him up from his rented house in Jatrabari, Dhaka, at about 10:00am on October 22. They beat him with truncheons and rubbed salt into the wounds, said Masum.

The elite force men took him to Rab 10 headquarters in Dhalpur, Dhaka where blindfolded and hands tied, Masum was again beaten for about an hour. He was also threatened by the battalion officers to be killed in "crossfire".

Masum was released from Rab custody after about 10 hours, reportedly after the minister and home secretary had intervened.

Upon his release, the New Age men had to sign an undertaking saying Masum was handed over to them in "good health". But according to Masum and other witnesses, he had bruises and wounds all over his body.

When interviewed by the HRW yesterday, Masum said he had severe pain in his head, chest, arms, and legs. He said he was unable to walk unassisted.

He also told them that the officers, who arrested him, had become increasingly agitated when they learnt his identity as a journalist.

"If this government is committed to the rule of law, human rights, and democratic principles, it has to realise that it cannot have a law enforcement agency that bases its operations on torture and extra judicial executions," said the HRW Asia director.