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Published : 22 May 2014, 02:06 PM
Mozena said on Thursday the government should report the findings of those investigations “in a transparent manner” as he said “every Bangladeshi knows recent events have cast a dark shadow over the RAB”.
He was distributing certificates to a group of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers who underwent criminal investigation and instructor development courses with US help at its headquarters in Dhaka.
The ambassador said the task of those who received the training “is to hold its own members accountable for their actions and conduct”.
“..…that is your responsibility … and it is a critical mission,” he said.
Twenty-three RAB personnel who received the training will work with the Internal Enquiries Cell (IEC) formed within the force in 2012 with the US help.
Two US instructors gave them eight weeks training on understanding and investigating different types of crimes.
Mozena said all were “aware of allegations against members of RAB for abuses and misconduct”.
But he said government support for this intensive training course “to strengthen the effectiveness” of the Cell makes clear that the senior functionaries of the government was endeavoring to hold them accountable.
“I believe that such accountability is now more important than ever in light of recent alleged incidents of abuse of power,” he said.
The elite force has been accused of violating human rights and extrajudicial killing since its inception during the last BNP-led alliance regime.
But the multiple murders at Narayanganj have put the RAB firmly under the scanner as several members of this elite force were accused of abduction and killing.
Even the BNP Chief Khaleda Zia twice demanded disbanding the elite force by describing it 'a menace’.
The US ambassador said he believed that “it is now more important than ever” that the Cell plays its critical role both in launching investigations of RAB conduct on its own initiative and in responding to complaints from the public of reported abuses and excesses by RAB personnel.
“Now, the burden shifts to you. You should take the lead in conducting thorough, timely and credible investigations of alleged abuses by members of RAB,” he said.
“You should carry out these investigations fearlessly and share the conclusions in a transparent manner that builds greater public confidence and trust in the organization,” the envoy said.
“This is how law enforcement agencies around the world, including those in my own country, deal with those elements that abuse their power”.
RAB spokesperson ATM Habibur Rahman said since inception the Cell had been carrying out number of investigations to ensure what he said “transparency and accountability” of the force.
“Now 10 enquiries were going on,” he said, adding that this was the second such course for the RAB personnel since the beginning of the Cell.
Director General Mokhlesur Rahman said the force had been formed in the light of deteriorating law and order situation at the beginning of the last decade.
