Several human rights organisations wrote a letter calling for a ban on members of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from conducting United Nations (UN) peace operations, following reports recording several incidents of abuses by the unit. Amongst others, the letter was signed by Amnesty International, Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, Human Rights Watch and the World Organization Against Torture.
In a letter addressed to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, 12 human rights groups expressed their concern about individuals from the RAB being deployed for UN missions. The letter highlighted that there has been “consistent and credible evidence” of abuses committed by the RAB, including “extrajudicial killings, torture and enforced disappearances by members of this unit since its creation in 2004.”
Furthermore, the letter underscored that “systematic screening” of peacekeeping forces was merely done “at higher ranks.” Instead, it recommended that all personnel should be made subject to scrutiny.
In addition, Kerry Kennedy, the President of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organisation — a signatory of the letter — released a statement asking the UN to “draw a line.” She urged the organisation to comply with the 2012 United Nations Policy on Human Rights Screening of United Nations Personnel. She also highlighted that to bring an end to human rights abuses by UN personnel, units like the RAB that have had proven records of abuse should be excluded from peacekeeping operations.
Meanwhile, the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances raised concern that RAB unit members that perpetrate or tolerate human rights abuses are being “promoted and rewarded within the Bangladesh security and law enforcement forces.”
The RAB was set up in 2004 with the aim of countering extremism and other serious crimes committed in Bangladesh. While it is legally led by the country’s Home Ministry, it is said to be strongly influenced by the country’s military. In fact, not only does the military control its actions and operations, but armed forces officers are also often seen taking up the most senior positions in the unit.
Through the years, it has been accused by several rights organisations and activists of committing gruesome human rights violations. The unit has been reported to have orchestrated around 600 extrajudicial killings since 2018.
As a result of these reports, in December 2021, the United States (US) declared the RAB as a “foreign entity that is responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse” under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. As a result, seven current and former military officials, including the Bangladeshi police chief Benazir Ahmed, were sanctioned.
Furthermore, in March 2021, the incidents of human rights abuses by the RAB were also highlighted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. She said that the allegations against the unit have been a “long-standing concern.” The RAB’s problematic activities were also highlighted in Bangladesh’s 2019 human rights review.
Nevertheless, the Bangladeshi government has denied the allegations against the unit. Previously, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said that the RAB is a critical government agency that has led operations to check terrorism, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes. “If bringing down a criminal under the law is a violation of human rights, then we have no objection to violating this human rights in the interest of the country,” he said.
Bangladesh has been one of the top contributors of troops and police for UN peacekeeping operations. In 2020, it was the highest contributor to the UN missions with over 6,731 personnel deployed.