We are concerned by the interim government’s decision to approve the purchase of 163 vehicles for the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)—that, too, at the end of its tenure. According to a Prothom Alo report, the vehicles are to be procured through direct purchase without any tender under a revised project aimed at enhancing Rab’s “operational capacity.” While the government has said the vehicles cannot be purchased before the national election due to procedural requirements, the approval itself raises questions. At a time when Rab’s very existence is under national and international scrutiny, this decision sends a wrong signal.
For years, Rab has been accused of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other grave human rights violations. These allegations are not confined to domestic rights groups; they have been echoed by international organisations and UN bodies. Consequently, in 2021, the US imposed sanctions on Rab and several of its former and then-serving officials. The role of this force was questionable during the July uprising, too. The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, formed by the interim government itself, recommended disbanding Rab after identifying it as the worst offender in cases of enforced disappearances. The Police Reform Commission also proposed reviewing Rab’s past activities and allegations of abuse to assess whether the force is needed at all. Citing this widespread criticism, the TIB chief has pointed out that Rab’s dissolution has become a national demand.
Against this backdrop, the decision to strengthen Rab’s logistical capacity is not only misguided, it also ignores prevailing reform proposals as well as well-documented facts and findings. We must ask why the government has made such a decision, and what purpose it serves. Proceeding with direct procurement worth hundreds of crores of taka at a time of economic stress and political uncertainty is equally questionable.
If the interim government is serious about reform, justice, and restoring public confidence in law enforcement, it must reconsider this purchase and act upon the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and the Police Reform Commission. Instead of enhancing Rab’s capacity, the government should focus on disbanding the force or fundamentally rebuilding it through a transparent process that addresses its structural flaws, lack of accountability, and history of political misuse.
