PM Vows Not to Allow Terrorism, Atrocities

"We must uphold the spirit of independence at any cost. We won't allow terrorism and atrocities on Bangladesh's soil. So all concerned including the RAB will have to take proper action and discharge their respective duties with utmost sincerity to ensure security for the life and property of the people," she said.

The Prime Minister asked the members of the RAB to perform their duties by maintaining the chain of command as well as the laws, rules and policy of the force.

"Personnel from different forces are posted to the RAB. Whichever forces from you come, you will have to move by maintaining the chain of command, laws, rules and the policy of the present force and you will have to be sincere to this end," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing a "darbar" on the occasion of 11th founding anniversary of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at its headquarters in Kurmitola in the capital. RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed delivered the welcome address, while PM's Security Advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, State Minister for Home Asaduzzman Khan Kamal, Home Secretary Dr Mozammel Haque Khan and Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque were present on the dais.

On her arrival at the RAB headquarters, the Prime Minister was given a guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of the elite force.

The Prime Minister also reiterated her firm determination to advance the country further by facing manmade disasters side by side with natural calamities.

"The manmade disasters will come sometimes, but we will have to move forward by encountering this and I have firm belief that we could do it," she said.

Coming down heavily against the BNP-Jamaat nexus for unleashing atrocities on the people in the name of their so-called movement, Sheikh Hasina said their movement means burning the people to death and torching property.

"I didn't see such a movement in my life as my life started through a movement in my school life. The people were involved in all the movements staged in the past. But there is no involvement of the people in the BNP-Jamaat's movement now," she said.

The Prime Minister accused BNP-Jamaat of unleashing destructive acts to impede the country's development and take revenge on the people. "Those who could burn the people to death do not want advancement of the country and welfare of the people," she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina posed a question what crimes the arson victims committed that they will have to die in such a brutal way. "Those arson victims who remain alive will have to live their entire life with the torment of burning," she noted.

Laying importance on continuing the drive against militancy, the Prime Minister said: "We won't allow any militant activities in Bangladesh in any way. We must build Bangladesh as a peaceful nation in South Asia."

Putting emphasis on necessity of deployment of RAB members in the coastal and hilly regions to ensure security of the country and people, Sheikh Hasina said initiatives would be taken to raise the number of battalions and reforming organizational structure of the force.

The Prime Minister said when the country is advancing towards prosperity and development, the BNP-Jamaat alliance at that time has again chosen the path of killing and terrorism to take Bangladesh backward further.

"They committed the same incident in 2013 and before and after the January 5 elections in 2014," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat clique killed children, elderly people, women, common people and the members of law enforcement agencies. "Rail line, BRTC buses, trucks, CNGs, government offices, power plants, business establishments, footpath shops were torched and destroyed by the BNP-Jamaat terrorists," she said.

To save the life and property from this situation, she said, all law enforcement agencies including the RAB have been working with highest professionalism and endless patience. "For this, I extend my sincere thanks to all,"she said.

Paying rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Prime Minister said Bangabandhu knew that maintaining law and order is a pre-condition of the development. "To this end, he had given priority to the law and order and the development of the law enforcement agencies," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said whenever the Awami League formed the government, it worked for maintaining law and order and made huge development of every law enforcement agency.

Spelling out her government's steps for the development of RAB in the last six years, the Prime Minister said new battalions were opened, while permanent land has been allocated for 11 battalions.

Sheikh Hasina said permanent land has also been allocated for the RAB headquarters and RAB Training Centre in Gazipur, adding RAB's infrastructure development and relevant facilities have been raised to manifolds.

"We have also allocated necessary vehicles including two helicopters for increasing the operational capacity of the RAB. The RAB has been equipped with high-tech equipment and modern information technology to curb crimes and arrest the criminals," she said.

The Prime Minister said in real meaning, the RAB is now an elite force. "We would do whatever necessary for its further modernization and making it time-befitting, Insha Allah," she said.

Terming abduction and demanding ransom as a heinous crime, Sheikh Hasina said the RAB returned many kidnapped children and people to their families by arresting many hatred criminals.

In this connection, she criticised a section of media for not giving proper coverage on the successful drives of the law enforcement agencies regarding rescue of the abducted persons.

"Whatever coverage on news of abduction the newspaper usually give, they don't give coverage on rescue to the same extent. It is unfortunate," she said.

The Prime Minister said the RAB played a successful role in containing extremists and forest bandits destroying peace and order in south and southwestern regions.

She said the members of the elite force have been conducting fruitful drives to check ill efforts of the dishonest businessmen, smuggling, fake currencies, making fake passports and illegal VoIP business. "They are also conducting mobile courts against adulteration and these courts are bringing peace and comfort in the public mind by realizing fine and giving jail on the spot," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the RAB members are conducting nonstop operations to root out to extreme militancy and they have brought numerous militants to the laws after arrest. As a result, she said, organizational structures of these militant outfits have been broken.

"We have been successful in containing militancy and this success has made the nation hopeful and brightened the country's image abroad," she said.

The Prime Minister said this force is continuing to recover huge arms and ammunition across the country by conducting successful drives. "As a result, establishing rule of law and curbing crimes have been easy," she said.

Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated six establishments and laid the foundation stones of three establishments of the RAB through the function. She also addressed the commanders of the elite force.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol