Govt slates HRW ‘interference’

US group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has interfered in Bangladesh’s internal affairs by calling for disbanding of elite police unit RAB, the government feels.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu has made it clear that Bangladesh does not like such interference.

In a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on July 18, the New York-based HRW claimed the force was being used as a “death squad” and recommended breaking it up.

On Monday, the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order discussed the issue in its meeting and rejected outright the HRW proposal.

After the meeting, committee chief Amu told reporters: “Whether we’ll disband RAB or not is entirely an internal issue. It doesn’t concern them (HRW).

“We won’t take a decision based on their (HRW) letter. We’ll take our own decision.”

The HRW had made a similar call in 2012.

RAB has been in the spotlight since the allegations that its officers were involved in the abduction and murder of seven men in Narayanganj in April surfaced.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia has since then repeatedly called for disbanding the force, which was formed when she was the prime minister.

But Prime Minister Hasina has dismissed Khaleda’s call, saying the elite unit had become an institution which cannot be shut overnight.

Various quarters have pushed for “reforming” the RAB instead of disbanding it.

HRW argued for RAB’s elimination claiming the force had killed 800 people since its inception in 2004.

In a media statement on Sunday, the rights group claimed the government had “utterly failed” to keep its promise to reform RAB and hold it accountable.

“The lack of accountability has allowed the Rapid Action Battalion to run amok. RAB is beyond reform and should swiftly be abolished.”