Can’t just disband RAB: Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dismissed BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s demand that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) be disbanded.

“It has been around for a long time, and it has become an institution. We can’t just shut it down suddenly,” she said while answering questions from the press at Ganabhaban on Saturday.

Following the abduction and murder of seven people in Narayanganj, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia demanded that RAB, an elite crime fighting force formed under her government, be disbanded.

It has been alleged that three RAB officers, now removed, were involved in the crime.

The prime minister expressed her displeasure over a High Court order that led to their arrest.

“How can a High Court bench order an arrest? The judges must have some information. If those two judges have any information, they should pass them on to help the investigation.”

“They will investigate and they will conduct the trial,” she said.

Then she laughingly told journalists: “What? Am I going to get a contempt charge? I don’t care.”

“Do my words seem harsh? The truth is always harsh,” she continued.

The prime minister said at least 150 people, including Awami League activists, were killed during the ‘Operation Clean Heart’ under the BNP-Jamaat government.

“At least 1,000 people were killed by RAB in the first five years since its inception,” she added.

“At that time everybody was praising them.”

Sheikh Hasina had opposed the formation of RAB in 2004.

RAB has solved a lot of sensational cases, the prime minister said, citing the recovery of Tk 160 million stolen from Sonali Bank.

Bringing up the topic of Narayanganj murders and the murder of Upazila Chairman Ekramul Haque in Feni, she said, “We don’t cover up anything up. We’re taking action against the criminals no matter what party they belong to.”