Rab to be upgraded, well equipped

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members yesterday celebrated the fifth anniversary of the crime busting elite force by offering condolence to the family members of those killed during the February 25-26 BDR mutiny.
Rab, which was formed on March 26, 2004 through attending the national parade of Independence Day, has by now arrested around 45,000 people, including 475 militant suspects, under its belt.
The agency, comprising efficient members from army, police, Ansar, BDR, armed battalion and coastguard forces, came into operation to crack down on serious crimes across the country.
President, prime minister, home minister and state minister for home gave separate messages on the occasion, while national dailies bring out special supplements highlighting various achievements of the force.
The anti-crime force, with its hard-line tactics, is widely held to have considerably surpassed other law enforcement agencies in its various drives against militancy and terrorism, illegal arms, narcotics and illegal VoIP equipment.
But the agency has also faced strong criticism over extrajudicial killings, usually described as deaths due to 'crossfire' or 'armed encounters'.
Rab Director General Hasan Mahmud Khandaker hoped that the force would be upgraded and well-equipped in combating crimes in land, air and water.
According to Rab headquarters, the 8,000-strong force has arrested 44,828 crime suspects to date, recovered more than 5,000 firearms and over 51,000 rounds of ammunition.
The Rab personnel have arrested 449 members of the banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, including its top leaders, and another 26 militants of other outlawed groups.
Rab also showed much success in anti-narcotics operations, recovering 150 kilograms or 42,561 purias of heroin and 164,000 Yaba tablets among other drug seizures.
Around 250 Rab members have been brought under punitive measures so far due to negligence of their duty, misconduct or indiscipline.
A special Darbar (assembly) was held at the Rab headquarters on the occasion.