Taposh fumes at Rab

Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, also nephew of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, once again hit out at the Rab yesterday for the recent killings of ruling party leaders and activists in "so-called gunfights".

Although panic has gripped the ruling party men following such killings, Taposh is the first to speak out over extra-judicial killings and to point fingers at law enforcement agencies.

"We will not tolerate killings of our leaders and activists in the name of so-called gunfight and those responsible for the killings will be brought to book,” said Tapohs.

He was speaking at a prayer for Hazaribagh Chhatra League president Arzu Miah, who was killed in an alleged gunbattle with Rab on Tuesday.

In the last five days, at least four leaders and activists of the AL and its associated bodies died in “shootouts” with police and Rab, much to the ruling party's concern.

Taposh came down heavily on Rab soon after Arzu's killing. Later, he alleged the elite force killed him without any trial.

Arzu was the prime accused in the case over Raja Miah's death. Raja, 16, was beaten to death allegedly by Arzu and his associates in Hazaribagh on Monday over claims that the boy had stolen a laptop and mobile phones.

"Rab was formed during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government and so law enforcement of Sheikh Hasina-led administration can't be done through this Rab," Taposh said yesterday, demanding a reshuffle in the crime-busting force.

Recalling AL men's killing by Rab during the BNP-led government, Taposh said the force was then formed as the “killing squad of BNP-Jamaat alliance”.

"If anyone gets injured or killed while in the custody of any law enforcement agency, then that agency will have to take responsibility," he said, adding that the Rab could not avoid the responsibility for Arzu's killing.

He described the incident as a “totally inhuman act” and said it could not be tolerated.

Taposh alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to put the AL and the government face to face.

 Speaking at the programme, leaders and activists of local AL and its front organisations demanded justice for the murder.

Taposh assured the crowd of filing a case against two Rab officials, one cop and an informant over the killing.

According to rights body Ain o Salish Kendra, 72 people have died at the hands of law enforcers in shootout in the first six months of this year. Of them, 40 people were killed by police and 22 by Rab.

According to The Daily Star reports, at least 20 more people died in alleged crossfire between July and August 18.