Home Minister Kamal defends under fire RAB, says the force always follows law

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has sprung to the defence of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which is under fire for allegedly carrying out extrajudicial killings.

He says the force always adheres to the law.

His remark comes after a Dhaka court ordered a judicial enquiry into the death of Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Md Arzu Mia in a 'gunfight' with RAB.

Arzu was accused of beating local teenager Mohammed Raja to death on Aug 16 for alleged theft before he was killed.

Kamal at the Secretariat on Tuesday told reporters, "It can't be said for sure whether RAB is responsible for Arzu's death. The matter is still being probed."

"We'll work following the directives of the court," he said.

Asked whether RAB got specific orders, he said, "This is nothing new. It's a law-enforcing agency. They are always told to work staying within legal boundaries."

Dhaka-10 MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has claimed that Arzu was murdered and said the government could not function depending on RAB which was formed during the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami coalition government.

Awami League leader Kamal, however, said those were Tapash’s “personal opinion".

Domestic and international human rights organisations have accused RAB of carrying out extrajudicial killings in the name of 'crossfire' or 'shootout' and demanded its disbanding.

The home minister on Tuesday dismissed the demands to dissolve the elite police unit. "It's out of question. RAB has proved its capability in carrying out the duties for which it was formed in the first place.

"They have shown their ability in tackling militants, crimes and drugs."

"Officials who were involved in any crime are being tried. No one is above the law," Kamal said, hinting at actions taken against the RAB officials who played major roles in 2014's seven murders in Narayanganj.

A day after Hazaribagh BCL leader Arzu's brother sued him for murder, RAB-2 Commander Lt Col Masud Rana was withdrawn.

Responding to questions regarding that, the minister said, "Several other officials were also withdrawn. Their performances were not good."