US ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena has advised Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to wipe away its past stigma and offer good services to the people and be respectful to their rights and law.
There have been allegations of a large number of extrajudicial killings against the elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism paramilitary unit of the police force.
"RAB has a stigma in its comparative success in some incidents of the past against terrorism and crimes. You're the key to put an end to the chapter of the history of RAB and open a new chapter," the US official said while speaking at the closing session of a training course at the RAB headquarters in the city on Wednesday.
The course was launched on Nov 29 last year with the help of US embassy in Dhaka and ended on Jan 5. Nineteen RAB officials who took part in the course were given certificates at the function.
Home minister Shahara Khatun was the chief guest while state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Dan W Mozena, inspector general of police (IGP) Hasan Mahmud Khandaker and RAB director general Mokhlesur Rahman were the special guests.
The US envoy said Internal Investigation Cell has devised a new system to receive complaints from the people, registration and taking cognizance of those. "It's the first code of conduct for RAB."
According to a report of New York-based Human Rights Watch (RHW), a human rights organisation, a total of 622 people were killed in the so-called gunfight with RAB from its formation in June 2004 to June 2011. While RAB have long been saying that its members retaliate to save themselves.
Last year, Amnesty International and different rights organisations urged the UK and USA not to provide any assistance to RAB.
Expressing gratitude to the US government for conducting the course for the RAB members, Shahara said: "This initiative will help ensure RAB's transparency and accountability in protecting human rights, and accelerating the administrative activities of the elite force."
The function was told that the internal investigation cell would investigate if anyone complains against any RAB personnel. The activities of the cell would be conducted under the supervision of the RAB DG and its Legal and Media Wing.
The home ministry also said the activities of the investigation and forensic wing of RAB were in progress. "Thus RAB will get a forensic lab enriched with modern and developed technology."
Shahara also said the government is committed to develop the service of RAB with modern technology.
There have been allegations of a large number of extrajudicial killings against the elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism paramilitary unit of the police force.
"RAB has a stigma in its comparative success in some incidents of the past against terrorism and crimes. You're the key to put an end to the chapter of the history of RAB and open a new chapter," the US official said while speaking at the closing session of a training course at the RAB headquarters in the city on Wednesday.
The course was launched on Nov 29 last year with the help of US embassy in Dhaka and ended on Jan 5. Nineteen RAB officials who took part in the course were given certificates at the function.
Home minister Shahara Khatun was the chief guest while state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Dan W Mozena, inspector general of police (IGP) Hasan Mahmud Khandaker and RAB director general Mokhlesur Rahman were the special guests.
The US envoy said Internal Investigation Cell has devised a new system to receive complaints from the people, registration and taking cognizance of those. "It's the first code of conduct for RAB."
According to a report of New York-based Human Rights Watch (RHW), a human rights organisation, a total of 622 people were killed in the so-called gunfight with RAB from its formation in June 2004 to June 2011. While RAB have long been saying that its members retaliate to save themselves.
Last year, Amnesty International and different rights organisations urged the UK and USA not to provide any assistance to RAB.
Expressing gratitude to the US government for conducting the course for the RAB members, Shahara said: "This initiative will help ensure RAB's transparency and accountability in protecting human rights, and accelerating the administrative activities of the elite force."
The function was told that the internal investigation cell would investigate if anyone complains against any RAB personnel. The activities of the cell would be conducted under the supervision of the RAB DG and its Legal and Media Wing.
The home ministry also said the activities of the investigation and forensic wing of RAB were in progress. "Thus RAB will get a forensic lab enriched with modern and developed technology."
Shahara also said the government is committed to develop the service of RAB with modern technology.
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