Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Legal and Media Wing Director spokesperson Commander Khandaker Al Moin on Saturday said RAB is not violating human rights.
Rather the elite force is working to protect human rights in the country, he said while responding to journalists regarding the allegation of human rights violations made by the US against the elite force.
He was addressing at a press conference at RAB Media Centre at Karwan Bazar in the capital city Dhaka.
He said we heard about the US sections through the media. We are yet to receive any official letter regarding this. We will take necessary steps to verify it through the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when we receive an official letter.
The RAB Legal and Media Wing chief said 28 members of the force, having only 9,000 members, have sacrificed their lives to protect human rights and maintain law and order so far.
Besides, more than 2,000 were injured, he said.
About the gunfights, he said that they opened fire only for self-defence when they are attacked by the criminals during drives.
Commander Moin said RAB’s initiatives made Sundarbans robber-free with around 326 rehabilitated. Besides, many militants take right path due to RAB's activities.
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None is above the law in the force, he said adding that RAB always takes strict action against its force members who violates law.
Earlier, the US State Department imposed sanctions on RAB and seven of its former and current officials, including the current Inspector General of Police (IGP) and former RAB director general (DG) Benazir Ahmed, and former RAB-7 commanding officer Lt Col Miftah Uddin Ahmed.
It linked them to the "extrajudicial" killing of Teknaf Municipality councillor Ekramul Haque, during an anti-drug drive in May 2018.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department designated RAB, Benazir, and five other former and current RAB officials under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, EO 13818 citing "serious human rights abuse relating to their tenure."
