Police, RAB are family not rivals, says Bangladesh police chief

The police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) are not rivals but members of the same family, according to the chief of Bangladesh’s police.

The comment by Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque comes in the wake of reports of complaints voiced by RAB against the police.

RAB is a police unit, he told reporters after inaugurating a newly-built barrack at RRF Police Lines in Barisal on Friday.

“Members within a family may have their disagreements. But there is absolutely no scope for conflict here,” he said.

The police and RAB, which have worked together to ensure the security of citizens and uphold the law, would continue to be partners in the future, he said.

A recent newspaper report claimed that RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed had submitted a written complaint to the home ministry, mentioning six incidents to accuse the police of obstructing the elite force’s work and abusing its personnel.

IGP Hoque then said the RAB chief ‘did not go over his head’ to file a complaint at the ministry.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, following the report, issued a statement for the media in which he maintained that ‘there were no misunderstandings’ between the forces.

RAB, a special police unit, employs military officials but is headed by an official with the rank of additional IGP.