Rab not responsible for members' past crimes
The new director general of the Rapid Action Battalion, Benazir Ahmed, yesterday said his force would not take the responsibility for past criminal activities committed by its members.
“Those were isolated incidents and committed in an individual capacity. Rab will not own it,” he told reporters, while answering to a query on whether some officials' alleged involvement in the murder of seven people in Narayanganj besmirched the force's image.
Three officials were sacked from Rab and arrested after the family of one victim accused them of committing the seven murders in exchange for Tk 6 crore in April last year.
Speaking to the press at Rab headquarters in the capital after taking his new role, Benazir hinted at reform in the elite counter-terrorist force, created in 2004. “Time has come to change the mandate of Rab,” he said, adding that it would be made stronger with sophisticated technologies.
Benazir had held the office of the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police for over four years, before being appointed Rab's chief in late December.
The Rab has earned much acclaim in curbing militancy but its members faced widespread allegations of extra-judicial killings and torture in custody.
In a reply over the alleged use of the Rab in political purposes, Benazir said a section of politicians always tried to politicise everything. “It is not our duty to pay attention to them. We will carry out our responsibilities. It may not please some.”
Meanwhile, newly-appointed DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mian yesterday said his top priority would be to ensure the security of the city dwellers.
Talking to journalists at the DMP Media Centre, he however ducked the question, "How would you deal with the crimes committed by the ruling party men?"
Asaduzzaman only said he would not allow any harm to people.
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