Question doesn't arise at all to reform RAB: New DG

In the wake of imposing restrictions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) by the United States, the newly-appointed Director General of the elite force M Khurshid Hossain has ruled out any possibility of reforming it.

"Question doesn't arise at all to reform the RAB as it doesn't work going beyond law," he said after paying tribute to the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmondi 32 said on Saturday.

The government appointed him as the 9th DG of RAB on September 22 last.

of reforming the anti-crime elite force, which has been credited in dealing with militancy and serious crimes in recent years.

Asked about the reforms in RAB, the newly appointed DG said, "Personally, I don't see any question of reforms. We are not doing anything for what it needs to be reformed. We are working according to the rules defined for us. We don't do anything beyond law. So, there is no question of reforms."

Regarding the sanctions imposed by the United States, Khurshid Hossain said, "The government has replied to the sanctions through official channel. We've already explained what they have wanted to know from us. They didn't raise any question further after our replies. They raised the issue of missing so many people. And, we must have to tell them who were they. We have told them how and where they are staying now," he said adding that the RAB would continue to play its role by maintaining law and order and tackling militancy, terrorism and drug.

The DG's statement came in response to recent comment by US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas that there was no change in US policy on RAB and sanctions on the agency would continue until there has been accountability and reform after human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, accused the force of violating human rights.

The anti-crime force has been blamed for a number of enforced disappearances and so-called cross-fire incidents, but the agency refuted all the allegations.

The US envoy made the comment on Thursday  (on September 29) in a discussion organised by "Centre for Governance Studies" and German think-tank "Friedrich Ebert Stiftung" in Dhaka.

Haas had said the sanctions imposed by the US against RAB and seven of its former and current officials were not intended to punish them, but to change the behaviour and hold them accountable.

"We are looking for accountability for past incidents," said the US ambassador.