RAB, short for ‘The Rapid Action Battalion’ Is an essential part of Bangladesh’s law enforcement system. In a 169 million-person country, RAB was established in 2004 in response to growing concerns about organised crime, terrorism, extremism, and other major crimes that were difficult for conventional police units to successfully prosecute. But rights organisations have accused it of egregious human rights violations, including staging gunfights to assassinate suspected criminals. Comprising team members of many divisions of Bangladesh’s armed forces and law enforcement organisations, RAB functions as an elite paramilitary unit. Because of its varied makeup, RAB has the specialist knowledge, expertise, and equipment needed to tackle challenging security issues. RAB’s key goals are to protect national security, uphold public order, and react quickly to threats as they arise. To capture criminal elements and stop illegal activity, it combines intelligence-led operations, surveillance, and coordinated actions.

Although RAB is formally under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry, the military exercises considerable influence and control over its operations, as evidenced by the fact that military commanders hold many of the organisation’s highest positions. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bangladesh has been accused of violating human rights multiple times since January 2022. Human rights organisations both domestically and internationally, including the UN, have criticised RAB, an elite police enforcement group created to fight terrorism and crime, for alleged extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture.

In response to evidence of widespread violations, twelve human rights organisations wrote to the UN requesting that Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion be kept out of peacekeeping missions. The Bangladeshi government has denied many of the accusations against RAB, asserting that the agency operates within the legal framework to maintain law and order and that it investigates any allegations of misconduct.
However, issues with the RAB’s activities’ lack of accountability, transparency, and independent monitoring continue to exist. Human rights organisations are still pleading with the government to deal with these problems and make sure that all law enforcement organisations respect human rights norms in their operations.

Numerous media sources and human rights organisations have documented allegations of human rights crimes against the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bangladesh. Some well-known instances that have been used to support these claims are:

Major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan’s murder: In July 2020, at a police roadblock in Cox’s Bazar, Major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan, a former army officer turned filmmaker, was shot and killed. The event caused national indignation and prompted concerns about the misuse of authority by police enforcement, particularly RAB, and extrajudicial killings. Many people think that his murder was planned and that an effort was made to hide the facts surrounding his passing. The case refocused attention on claims that the RAB and other security personnel in Bangladesh violated human rights.

Enforced Disappearance of Irfan Selim: In October 2020, Irfan Selim, the son of a ruling party member of parliament, was charged with assault and extortion. Irfan Selim was allegedly transported up by RAB from his Dhaka residence after the incident, and he then vanished. His disappearance sparked worries about law enforcement organisations, such as RAB, detaining people arbitrarily and forcing them to disappear, particularly when those people are thought to have ties to influential people.

Narayanganj Seven Murder Case (2014): In Narayanganj, Bangladesh, seven individuals—including a lawyer and a municipal councillor—were kidnapped and murdered in April 2014. The bodies of the victims were discovered drifting in a river. Nationwide outrage followed the tragedy, and accusations surfaced regarding RAB officials’ complicity. For financial and political gain, it was claimed that RAB employees, including senior officers, were complicit in the kidnapping and killing. A number of RAB officials were subsequently detained and put on trial for their roles in the killings.

Enforced Disappearances: There have been numerous allegations of enforced disappearances involving RAB where individuals are abducted and held incommunicado, often without any official acknowledgement or legal process. These cases have been documented by human rights organizations and have raised serious concerns about the practice of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.

Torture and Custodial Deaths: There have been reports of torture and deaths in RAB custody, highlighting concerns about the treatment of individuals detained by the agency. In some cases, detainees have died under suspicious circumstances, prompting calls for independent investigations and accountability.

Extrajudicial Killings: RAB has been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings under the guise of anti-crime operations. These killings often target individuals suspected of criminal activities without due process of law, raising questions about the legality and accountability of RAB’s actions.

Since 2018, the RAB and other Bangladeshi law enforcement authorities have been accused by non-governmental organisations of being involved in approximately 600 extrajudicial executions.
These cases, among others, have contributed to the ongoing debate and scrutiny surrounding RAB’s operations and its alleged involvement in human rights violations in Bangladesh. While accusations have been made, investigations and legal proceedings are often complex and may involve.

Under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, RAB was named a “foreign entity that is responsible for or complicit in or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse” by the United States last month.
The Bangladeshi government refuted the accusations and summoned the US ambassador to express disapproval of the sanctions imposed on its senior security personnel following the deaths of seven individuals, including the head of the national police force.
Concerns about “whether members of the RAB would be eligible to participate in UN peacekeeping operations without any previous investigation into their alleged involvement in the commission of human rights abuses or a thorough vetting process” have been raised by the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances.
According to the group, law enforcement and security forces in Bangladesh seem to encourage and promote officials who engage in or tolerate abuses.

The UN’s concerns about Bangladesh’s human rights record are frequently disregarded by the country’s administration. The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has repeatedly requested to visit Bangladesh; the request was sent on March 12, 2013, and it was re-issued on April 23, 2020, but the government has not answered. The experts stated in their statement from December that it is “all the more troubling, bearing in mind that all allegations received refer to the frequent and ongoing use of enforced disappearance as a tool by law enforcement agencies, security, and intelligence forces, especially to target political opponents or other dissidents.” This is about the government’s lack of response regarding the request to visit the country.
Human rights organisations in Bangladesh claim that since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed office in 2009, security agents have forcefully removed close to 600 individuals. After weeks or months of secret incarceration, some prisoners have been released or appeared in court, while others became the victims of extrajudicial killings that are erroneously reported to be shootout deaths. Human Rights Watch has tracked down 86 of these cases, in which the victims are still unaccounted for. The government of Bangladesh has consistently refuted reports that enforced disappearances are routinely carried out by security agents.

“The Bangladeshi government is jeopardising the legitimacy of these crucial missions by assigning officers who have been duly charged with violating human rights to UN peacekeeping missions,” Adams stated. “Bangladesh is the world’s largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, but the UN’s dependence on Bangladeshi troops shouldn’t turn into laxer human rights screening practices.”
As of my last update in January 2022, the United States has imposed sanctions on some individuals and entities in Bangladesh, including members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), due to allegations of human rights violations.
The imposition of sanctions by the United States on RAB members or other entities is typically based on credible evidence of their involvement in or responsibility for serious human rights abuses. These abuses may include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, or other violations of internationally recognised human rights standards.
When the United States imposes sanctions on individuals or entities in a foreign country like Bangladesh, it sends a strong signal of disapproval and aims to hold those responsible for human rights violations accountable. Sanctions can have several effects, including:
Legal Consequences: Sanctions can restrict individuals’ or entities’ access to U.S. financial systems and assets, and in some cases, they may be subject to travel bans to the United States.
Diplomatic Pressure: Sanctions can also exert diplomatic pressure on the government of Bangladesh to address human rights concerns and to take measures to prevent future violations.
International Stigma: Being sanctioned by the United States can bring international attention and stigma to the individuals or entities involved, potentially damaging their reputation and credibility on the global stage.
Domestic Impact: Sanctions may also have implications within Bangladesh, prompting domestic scrutiny and debate about the conduct of security forces and human rights standards.

The effectiveness of sanctions depends on various factors, including the response of the targeted individuals or entities, the stance of the Bangladeshi government, and the broader international context. While sanctions are one tool available to address human rights violations, they are often part of a broader strategy that may include diplomatic engagement, multilateral pressure, and support for human rights defenders.
It’s important to note that the situation may have evolved since my last update, and I recommend consulting recent sources for the latest information on sanctions against RAB members or other entities in Bangladesh.The United States has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities in Bangladesh, including members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), due to allegations of human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. These sanctions serve as a means to hold accountable those responsible for serious human rights abuses and to pressure the Bangladeshi government to address such concerns.

Sanctions can have significant effects, including legal consequences such as restrictions on access to U.S. financial systems and assets, diplomatic pressure on the Bangladeshi government to address human rights issues, international stigma for the sanctioned individuals or entities, and domestic impact through increased scrutiny and debate.

However, the effectiveness of sanctions depends on various factors and is often part of a broader strategy that includes diplomatic engagement, multilateral pressure, and support for human rights defenders. The situation regarding sanctions against RAB members or other entities in Bangladesh may continue to evolve, and it is important to consult recent sources for the latest information and developments. It’s visible that, the accusations of human rights violations against the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bangladesh are deeply concerning and have garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. The cases mentioned, along with numerous others, highlight a pattern of abuse, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detention, allegedly perpetrated by RAB personnel. These accusations underscore the urgent need for accountability, transparency, and reform within law enforcement agencies like RAB. The lack of independent oversight and accountability mechanisms has perpetuated a culture of impunity, where human rights abuses go unchecked and victims are denied justice. Addressing the allegations against RAB requires meaningful efforts from the Bangladeshi government, including impartial investigations into reported abuses, prosecution of those responsible, and reforms aimed at strengthening human rights protections and the rule of law. Furthermore, it is crucial for Bangladesh to uphold its obligations under international human rights law and ensure that law enforcement agencies operate within the framework of respect for human rights and due process.Ultimately, addressing human rights violations by RAB is not only a matter of legal and moral obligation but also essential for building trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, as well as for promoting peace, security, and justice in Bangladesh.