HPM Sheikh Hasina urges RAB to perform duties with utmost responsibility

"Moral turpitude may weaken the mentality of any force. You should always remember that you are the servant of the people. So you have to remain careful so that people are not harassed by your actions in anyway," she said while addressing a ' Darbar' at Kurmitola RAB Forces Headquarters marking the 13th founding anniversary of the elite force.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal attended the function as the special guest and director general (DG) of RAB Benazir Ahmed spoke, among others, on the occasion. PM's Security Advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiqui, Inspector General of Police M Shahidul Haq and senior civil and military officials attended the function.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of the Bangladesh Police, was formed in 2004, comprising members of the Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Ansar.

Since then the force is performing its duties in maintaining law and order, combating terrorism and holding various national programmes peacefully in addition to drive against pirates in the Sundarbans mangrove forests and curbing human trafficking.

On her arrival at the RAB headquarters, the prime minister was given guard of honour by Rab Forces Honour Guard.

"Members of a force must maintain discipline and obey the order of the higher authorities," the prime minister said, adding that "your salaries and other allowances are paid by the people. So, they should not be subjected to harassment in anyway."

"Your main task is to ensure security of the public life and property," Sheikh Hasina said hoping that the RAB members should be guided and discharging their duties as dictated by the laws, rules and principles.

Praising the role of RAB in combating militancy and terrorism, the prime minister said the soil of Bangladesh, which was liberated at the cost of blood of millions of martyrs, would not be allowed to be used for any militant or terror activities.

Like the past, the prime minister said, the RAB members would effectively play their role in future to make the public life and property safe and secured being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation.

Sheikh Hasina said the RAB has immense success in maintaining law and order. The force is playing a pioneering role in the drives against all kinds of crimes including recovering illegal arms, combating terrorism, militancy and different outlawed groups.

The prime minister said her government in the last eight years has taken extensive measures for development of the elite force. New battalions were created and their infrastructural development and benefits were increased manifolds. Since the 2015 fiscal year the budget of the force has almost been doubled.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has acquired land for RAB headquarters, training school and all battalions. The ECNEC has approved the infrastructure development project of RAB. Acquisition of modern equipments has been completed to enhance its capacity of identifying criminals, collecting finger print and telephone set tracking.

The prime minister said the government has allocated necessary budget to procure two helicopters for RAB to enhance its operational capacity. Now the RAB has acquired capacity of carrying out its operations on the ground, water and air, making it a three-dimensional force, she said.