Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has taken initiative to enact a new law to run the police as a specialised elite force of the police.
He said the new law will further strengthen transparency, accountability and human rights protection in the activities of the force.
He said this while exchanging views with journalists on the occasion of the 22nd founding anniversary of the force at the RAB headquarters in the capital’s Kurmitola on Monday.
The home minister said RAB will work with the highest priority in future to carry out the duties of maintaining law and order as well as protecting human rights. Asked whether there is a possibility of changing the name of the force, he said no final decision has been taken yet in this regard and the government will take a decision as needed.
He said the image of RAB has been damaged due to the activities of some people in the past. It is not the responsibility of the entire institution. During the fascist regime, the force faced international criticism over the actions of some officials and human rights issues. He also referred to the US sanctions.
The minister said that if the new law is implemented, the organizational structure and activities of RAB will be more modern and accountable. At the same time, the army will be run by ensuring respect for the rule of law and civil rights.
According to the concerned quarters, the initiative to bring RAB under the new legal framework is a sign of significant changes in the country’s security system.