Limiting activities is a strategy

The decision to limit the additional duties of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) was a 'strategic' move taken by the elite force, the state minister for home said yesterday.
"However, the force can be deployed whenever the need arises," Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters after a meeting at the secretariat in the capital.
He declined to say anything on whether the government had asked the Rab to stay away from performing additional duties.
On Monday, Rab officials announced that the force would give priority to its seven main objectives set when it was launched in 2004.
They would refrain from additional duties like stop-and-search by setting up checkpoints on streets, controlling traffic and guarding tender boxes, the officials said.
The elite force is specialised in ensuring internal security, recovering unauthorised arms, ammunition and explosives as well as busting armed criminal gangs.
It also assists other law enforcement agencies in maintaining law and order, gathers intelligence on criminals and crime, and investigates any offence as per government directives.
Yesterday, the state minister for home, the IGP and DG of Rab avoided giving any direct answer when they were asked whether the Rab's duties had been curtailed as it became controversial for its recent activities or the move was aimed at curbing the authorities of the elite force.
IGP Hasan Mahmud Khandker said Rab would be operated as per the law while DG Mokhlesur Rahman said Rab, as usual, would be patrolling at railway and bus terminals during Ramadan.
The force, it may be mentioned, has always been under fire at home and abroad over allegations of its involvement in extra-judicial killings.
After the abductions and killings of seven people in Narayanganj, it was alleged that some Rab members had received Tk 6 crore for committing the crime.
Three Rab-11 officials -- commanding officer Lt Col Tareque Sayeed Mohammad, Maj Arif Hossain and Lt Commander Masud Rana -- were forced into retirement following the allegations.
They were later arrested and placed on remand for their alleged involvement in the abductions and killings.