BANGLADESH

Relatives of three missing people have claimed that Rapid Action Battalion men took away the trio five days ago following an altercation with some RAB personnel in Gaibandha, but the elite force denies the charge.

The three traceless people – Bajlar Prodhan, his friend Hasanul Islam and cousin Mintu Prodhan – of Gobindaganj upazila in Gaibandha, also alleged at a press conference at Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) on Saturday that police did not file a case in this regard.

The trio was allegedly held by RAB men from Gabtoli of Bogra, where they were hiding after RAB filed a case following the altercation on Feb 23.

RAB media wing director M Suhayel termed the allegation against the force 'baseless'.

"They have been on the run since the case was filed. This is a drama to alter the course of the case," he told bdnews24.com.

Hasanul's wife Rokeya Begum, brother Hossain Ahmed, Bajlar's wife Lima Akter and Mintu's wife Suraiya Begum were present at the press briefing.

'ALTERCATION, CASE, ALLEGATION AGAINST POLICE'

The family members of the missing three said Hasanul had an altercation with the passengers of a car over breaking of its looking glass at Fasitala intersection of Sapmara union on Feb 23.

"At one stage of the row, the passengers beat up my husband severely. As the locals reacted to the beating of Hasanul, the car passengers introduced themselves as RAB members," Rokeya said.

The issue was settled on assurance of giving Tk 2,000 as compensation but RAB filed a case against her husband, his friend and cousin the following day, she said.

She further said as they went to the local RAB camp after the case was filed at the Gobindaganj Police Station over a missing pistol and a mobile phone of RAB members, "they said we know nothing about the case".

When the relatives of the trio went to the police station on March 12 to file a case in connection with the 'missing' three, the officer in-charge said no case or general diary can be filed as they already have a case lodged against them, Rokeya said.

RAB spokesman Suhayel said, "They (the trio) said they will compensate but instead called some goons from their locality and beat up RAB personnel, looted arms and vandalised the RAB car."

"Additional police force had to be called in to calm the situation," he added.