Rapid Action Battalion

History

2003–2008

The Rapid Action Battalion was formed on 12 July 2003 under the Armed Police Battalion (Amendment) Act, 2003. The act was passed through the amendment of the Armed Forces Battalion Ordinance 1979, which provides immunity to RAB officers for actions taken in the course of their duty. Each RAB battalion is commanded by an Assistant Inspector General - AIG (SP - SG) or an equivalent officer from other forces. RAB cannot file cases with the courts themselves, but they can forward the cases to Bangladesh Police, who can file the case with the courts. RAB is composed of personnel from Bangladeshi military and law enforcement agencies who return to their own units after service with RAB ends.

RAB replaced the short-lived Rapid Action Team (RAT), which was formed in January 2003. RAB has faced criticism for alleged extrajudicial killings since its formation. In an editorial on 23 July 2004, The Daily Star wrote "reign it in before it turns into a [RABid] monster." RAB was provided weapons seized from the 10-Truck Arms and Ammunition Haul in Chittagong on 16 April 2004. RAB has a media centre in Karwan Bazar.

On 15 July 2004, RAB arrested Sumon Ahmed Majumder, a Jubo League leader and garment trader, in Tongi. He died within 10 hours of being arrested from torture at RAB headquarters in Uttara. He was a witness to the murder of Ahsanullah Master, a member of parliament from Awami League. Police claimed he died while resisting arrest while RAB claimed he was lynched by the general public. Police refused to take a complaint from his father.

On 30 May 2005, RAB arrested Abul Kalam Azad Sumon, a tailor and Chhatra League activist from Dhaka, along with two others. He was killed soon after. He had been shot six time,s and his body showed signs of torture. According to his mother, Sumon had switched from Bangladesh Nationalist Party to Awami League, which angered his local member of parliament, Mirza Abbas.

On 8 March 2006, RAB detained Md. Masudur Rahman, a businessman and activist of Jubo League from Dhaka. His body was found with signs of torture and bullet wounds the next day.

On 24 January 2007, journalist Jahangir Alam Akash was detained and tortured by RAB-5 in Rajshahi by Major Rashidul Hassan Rashid.

On 15 July 2008, Moshiul Alam Sentu of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal was detained by Rapid Action Battalion from Dhaka, and his body was found the next day in a paddy field in Barisal. According to RAB, he died after crossfire, but later, evidence showed that his body had signs of torture. Dr. Mizanur Rahman Tutul, leader of the insurgent Purbo Banglar Communist Party, was detained on 26 July and his body was recovered the next day.

2009–2018

Shafique Ahmed, Minister of Law, defended RAB to Human Rights Watch by saying RAB only killed criminals in 2009. On 28 May, Moshin Sheikh, and Ali Jinnah, students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, were killed in crossfire by RAB. On 22 October, F. M. Masum, a reporter of the New Age, was beaten up after he hesitated to open the door for plainclothes RAB officers who were assaulting his landlord's wife. The officers had said he deserved to be beaten for working for Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age. Bangladesh Air Force Officer Anisur Rahman, on deputation to RAB, was found guilty of torture by RAB's own internal investigation; he was sent back to the air force and no further action was taken. RAB-1 led by Flight Lieutenant Raihan Asgar Khan killed Kaiser Mahmud Bappi due to crossfire. On 13 November, Lutfar Rahman Khalashi, and Khairul Huq Khalashi, two brothers and businessmen, were detained by RAB from Narayanganj District. Their family organized a press conference and protest asking that they not be killed in a crossfire. They were killed in a crossfire on 16 November. the Bangladesh High Court expressed concern over the death of the two brothers.

On 3 February, Mohiuddin Arif, a technician at Apollo Hospital Dhaka was detained and tortured in custody by RAB. He later died from injuries. Azad Hussein Pappu, and Abdus Sattar were detained on 27 February and killed the next day due to crossfire by RAB on 28 February 2010. On 22 March 2010, Bangladesh Police stopped a photo exhibition on deaths by RAB at Drik Picture Library by Shahidul Alam.

Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, a salesman and member of extremist Allahr Dol, was forcibly disappeared by RAB in February. RAB detained the Asian Human Rights Commission representative, William Gomes, and tortured him at their headquarters on 21 May 2011. Limon Hossain, a 16-year-old student of Jhalokati College, was shot by RAB and his leg was amputated on 23 March 2011. Hossain was assaulted by informants of RAB on 20 August 2012. Rasal Ahmed Bhutto, was detained on 3 March and killed due to crossfire a week later. On 4 November 2011, Colonel Zulfiqar Ali Majumder led members of his unit, Rapid Action Battalion-7, to Talsara Darbar Sharif and robbed the compound keeping the pir at gunpoint. They stole 27 million BDT from the shrine. Four months later, a driver of the shrine sued 10 members of Rapid Action Battalion and two informants for the robbery.

On 5 March 2012, RAB told Mohammad Imam Hassan's family members that they rescued him and demanded a bribe for his release. Despite a bribe being paid, he has not been seen since then.

On 11 May 2013, Mohammad Fokhrul Islam, a businessman, was the victim of enforced disappearance by RAB. His family members were warned by RAB with enforced disappearance not to talk about the issue. On 27 November 2013, Saiful Islam Hiru, former MP and politician of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and Mohammad Humayun Kabir Parvez, a politician, disappeared after being detained by RAB led by Lieutenant Colonel Tareque Sayeed. RAB was involved in the enforced disappearance of Adnan Chowdhury, a politician of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on 5 December. The police refused to take a case from Chowdhury's father, which mentioned RAB.

In Narayanganj, rogue RAB-11 officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Tareque Sayeed abducted and killed seven men in April 2014.

On 10 March 2015, RAB vehicles were seen when Salahuddin Ahmed, a politician of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party was a victim of forced disappearances by law enforcement agencies.

In March 2017, Intelligence Wing chief Lieutenant Colonel Abul Kalam Azad was killed in a bomb blast in Sylhet while raiding an ISIS hideout.

2018–2023

RAB detained three business partners of Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the defence advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in January 2019. One of whom, retired Army captain Johirul Haque Khandaker, died eight months later in custody. Human Rights Watch described the detention as the result of a business dispute.

A cyber unit of RAB-3 identified Ahmed Kabir Kishore, Mushtaq Ahmed, Didarul Bhuiyan, activist, and Minhaz Mannan Emon as targets for publishing cartoons critical of the government and charged under the Digital Security Act in May 2020. They had been victims of enforced disappearance before being officially detained. Ahmed died in custody, where Kishore alleged they were tortured.

In 2021, Al Jazeera released a documentary called All the Prime Minister's Men in which the brother of the then Chief of Army, General Aziz Ahmed, bragged about RAB as his personal gangsters and thugs who make money for him and them through detentions.

In 2021, RAB manufactured and started using OIVS device to nab criminals.

In August 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ismail Hossain, air wing director, died after being injured in a helicopter crash. On 30 September, Director General of RAB, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, was promoted and appointed Inspector General of Bangladesh Police. Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun was under sanctions by the United States for human rights violations.

In 2023, Deutsche Welle published a documentary titled "Inside the Death Squad," which delved into the allegations of human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings committed by the RAB.

2024 to Present

In November 2024, after the exile of Sheikh Hasina, it was reported that RAB was considering changing the unit's name, logo, and uniform.

In March 2025, RAB arrested Ataullah abu Ammar Jununi, commander of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, along with five other terrorists in Narayangonj.

In May 2025, RAB ASP Palash Saha was mysteriously killed inside a RAB field office in Chattogram.

In June 2025, four men in RAB uniform stole nearly $100,000 worth of jackets in Uttara, Dhaka.

Location

RAB also has 15 battalions spread all over the country. Among them, 5 are located in Dhaka. The units are located as follows:

Activities

Main activities and types of work done by RAB are:

Counter-Terrorism: RAB apprehended numerous terrorism suspects during the course of their tenure.

Crackdown on illegal drugs: RAB has been involved in the control of illegal substances such as ya ba, phensedyl and heroin.

Emergency help: RAB provides immediate response for situations such as armed robberies and kidnappings.

National common or annual needs: Many national needs are filled by RAB by providing extra duty during Eid-ul-Fitr, Puja, Ijtema, and Akheri Munazat, among other events. They also contribute resources during elections, such as the Narayangonj City Corporation Election.

Ranks and insignia

RAB is composed of officers and troops from Bangladesh Police and the Bangladesh Armed Forces. It was necessary to attribute a common rank insignia to RAB badges. Such insignia can be seen in the illustrations below.

List of Director Generals

Notable arrests

The following is a table containing details of major arrests by the RAB according to their official website:

Criticisms

Although the RAB has been successful in apprehending several high-profile terrorists, including the infamous Bangla Bhai, Human Rights Watch has accused RAB of numerous deaths, which have been attributed to crossfire. In March 2010, the battalion leader claimed 622 deaths were due to 'crossfire', while some human rights organisations claimed that more than 1,000 extrajudicial killings were the product of the battalion. Further, there have been many reports of torture in connection with the battalion's activities.

Extrajudicial killings

According to Human Rights Watch, members of Rapid Action Battalion have shot and killed women and children during public protests. Rights group describe it as a "death squad."

In 2017, a reporter from Swedish Radio recorded a high-ranking RAB officer explaining how the RAB selects people to kill, and how it kills people. They kill people who they suspect of serious crimes but consider too difficult to convict in a trial or impossible to rehabilitate. He said, "If you find him – shoot and kill him, wherever he is. And then plant a weapon beside him." This officer says that people disappear this way every day, and that innocent people can disappear.

Call for sanctions

On 27 October 2020, The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote a letter to the United States Secretary of State and United States Secretary of the Treasury, urging them to impose sanctions on senior officials of the Rapid Action Battalion for human rights violations.

Framing incidents

Limon Hossain, a college student at Jamaddarhat at Rajapur Upazila in Jhalokati, was shot by RAB personnel near his house on 23 March 2011, triggering a local and international outcry. His left leg had to be amputated as a result. The battalion filed two cases that day with the Rajapur police implicating Limon in an arms case and accusing him of obstructing police duties. The government finally decided to withdraw the cases against Limon on 9 July 2013, citing his need to return to a "healthy and normal life".

Rapid Action Battalion is accused of framing a Bangladeshi expatriate named Shamim Sikder on false charges of illegal drug-related crimes and forged currency and he was tortured in custody.

Enforced disappearances

Main article: Forced disappearance in Bangladesh

Families of the victims and witnesses blamed RAB for picking up 83 people and detective branch for 38, 'law enforcers' for 55, and plainclothes men for 20 others reported between January 2007 and August 2014, according to a report by human rights organization Ain-o-Shalish Kendro (ASK). The report also said that at least 70 leaders and activists of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami fell victim to enforced disappearances while 37 others were activists of the Awami League.

On 5 February 2012 approximately at 1.00 a.m. Al Mukaddas (22), a 4th-year student of the Department of Al Fiqah, and Mohammad Waliullah (23), a Masters candidate of Dawah and Islamic Studies Department of the Islamic University, were allegedly arrested and became victims of forced disappearances by RAB-4 and DB policemen from Savar. Both were members of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir and were allegedly detained by members of RAB and Detective Branch (DB) of the Bangladesh Police on 4 February 2012. They have not been heard from since and their whereabouts are unknown. The RAB has denied detaining the two men in a statement to a Bangladeshi newspaper. However, reports from several sources and a pattern of disappearances thought to have been conducted by RAB in recent months cast doubt on RAB's denial.

Post-2024 investigations and allegations

Following the 2024 Student-People's uprising and the subsequent fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the role of the Rapid Action Battalion in human rights abuses came under intense scrutiny. The interim government, along with international bodies, initiated several investigations into the unit's past and recent activities.

Governmental and judicial actions

In late August 2024, the interim government established a five-member inquiry commission to investigate allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances that occurred during the previous administration. As a signal of intent, the government also signed the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The commission's investigations led to the discovery of secret detention sites operated by security forces. In July 2025, representatives from Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights visited a newly-uncovered detention and torture site located within the RAB-1 battalion headquarters in Dhaka. The site contained cramped, dark cells and interrogation rooms where, according to victim testimony, individuals were beaten, hung from ceilings, and subjected to electrocution.

Role in suppressing 2024 protests

According to a fact-finding report by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Bangladeshi security forces, including RAB, engaged in extensive and indiscriminate use of lethal force to suppress the student-led protests in July and August 2024. The report concluded that these actions were taken with the approval of top political leaders and resulted in the deaths of up to 1,400 people by the time the government fell on August 5. Amnesty International corroborated these findings, documenting the repeated use of assault rifles, tear gas in enclosed spaces, and rubber bullets against protesters.

Calls for disbandment and reform

For years, human rights organizations have documented RAB's pattern of abuse. Human Rights Watch reported that security forces were responsible for over 600 enforced disappearances between 2009 and 2023, with nearly 100 people remaining missing. Although U.S. sanctions in 2021 led to a temporary drop in these abuses, they reportedly resumed thereafter.

In the wake of the 2024 uprising, the OHCHR and other international human rights groups intensified their calls for fundamental security sector reform. A key recommendation from the OHCHR report was the complete disbandment of the Rapid Action Battalion, arguing that the institution's consistent record of committing gross human rights violations with impunity made it beyond reform.

U.S. sanctions

Main article: United States sanctions on Bangladesh#Sanctions on RAB

On 10 December 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added RAB to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under GLOMAG. Six individuals associated with RAB – including its Director General, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former DG Benazir Ahmed, ADG Colonel KM Azad were also sanctioned. Entities on the list have their assets blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen wrote an open letter to the US Secretariat of State Antony Blinken regarding RAB to reconsider those sanctions. On the other hand, US Congressman and Chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory W Meeks has strongly supported sanctions by the US Government and said that wholesale sanctions against Bangladesh were not necessary, but targeted sanctions were most useful.

Notes

References

References

1. (6 November 2016). "DMP: SWAT team will root out militancy and terrorism". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
2. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division. (2009). "World Population Prospects, Table A.1". United Nations.
3. (19 March 2017). "Extrajudicial killings: 51 die in three months". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
4. (16 August 2021). ""Where No Sun Can Enter": A Decade of Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh". Human Rights Watch.
5. {{Cite Banglapedia
6. (10 May 2011). "Bangladesh: Broken Promises From Government to Halt RAB Killings". [[Human Rights Watch]].
7. (27 May 2003). "Cabinet body reviews lowly law and order". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
8. (24 January 2003). "RAT hits the road tomorrow". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
9. Huda, Muhammad Nurul. "Rapid Action Battalion: Rationale and reality". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
10. "Rab gets 1,790 seized arms of Ctg ammo haul". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
11. (21 October 2016). "Dead Abdur Rahman is Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
12. (18 May 2009). "Ignoring Executions and Torture: Impunity for Bangladesh's Security Forces". [[Human Rights Watch]].
13. (11 August 2008). "Bangladesh: End Wave of Killings by Elite Forces". [[Human Rights Watch]].
14. (18 July 2014). "Letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Re: Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion". [[Human Rights Watch]].
15. (10 May 2011). ""Crossfire": Continued Human Rights Abuses by Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion". [[Human Rights Watch]].
16. Sarkar, Ashutosh. (14 December 2009). "HC very concerned". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
17. (24 March 2010). "Bangladesh: Allow Photo Exhibit of Crossfire Killings". [[Human Rights Watch]].
18. (22 January 2012). "World Report 2012: Bangladesh". Human Rights Watch.
19. "Limon was not shot point-blank in leg: RAB". [[bdnews24.com]].
20. "Limon, who lost leg in RAB shootout, gets married". [[New Age (Bangladesh)]].
21. (28 August 2012). "Bangladesh: Vendetta Against Child Shot by Troops". [[Human Rights Watch]].
22. (4 May 2012). "Ex-Rab official held". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
23. (5 May 2012). "Ex-Rab official sent to jail". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
24. "Darbar Sharif loot: Dismissed Rab Lt Col Zulfiqar to face trail". [[The Daily Observer (Bangladesh)]].
25. (16 August 2021). "Bangladesh: 86 Victims of Enforced Disappearance Still Missing". [[Human Rights Watch]].
26. (17 March 2015). "Bangladesh: Investigate Case of Enforced Disappearance". [[Human Rights Watch]].
27. (31 March 2017). "RAB intelligence chief Azad dies from Sylhet blast injuries". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
28. Bergman, David. "Employee of UK-based Bangladeshi businessman dies in custody". [[Al Jazeera]].
29. link. [[BBC Bangla]]
30. "RAB air wing director Ismail, injured in helicopter crash, dies". [[The Daily Observer (Bangladesh)]].
31. (5 October 2022). "Bangladesh Government Keeps Rewarding Rights Abusers". [[Human Rights Watch]].
32. (4 March 2023). "Inside Bangladesh's 'death squad'". [[Deutsche Welle]].
33. "DW documentary: US hopes Bangladesh will examine allegations against RAB". [[United News of Bangladesh]].
34. Khan, Mohammad Jamil. (2024-11-13). "Rab wants to shed its dark past".
35. "Bangladesh military detains ARSA leader Ataullah".
36. "ASP found dead at RAB office". jagonews24.com.
37. "Muggers in RAB disguise snatch 1C from Nagad distributor in Uttara".
38. "About RAB: Rank".
39. "About RAB: Rank".
40. link. [[Bangladesh Pratidin]]
41. (28 February 2007). "RAB Achievements".
42. "Bangladesh police arrest fugitive". [[BBC News]].
43. "3 gunned down at Karwan Bazaar". [[bdnews24.com]].
44. "'Pichchi' Hannan killed in 'crossfire'". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
45. "Another criminal dies in 'shootout' with Rab". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
46. "Rab action kills 4 in city, 1 in Rangpur". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
47. "Criminal dies in 'crossfire'". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
48. (6 March 2006). "'Top Bangladeshi militant' held". [[BBC News]].
49. (22 January 2012). "World Report 2012: Bangladesh: Events of 2011". [[Human Rights Watch]].
50. (21 December 2010). "WikiLeaks: U.K. trained Bangladeshi 'death squad'". [[NBC News]].
51. (21 May 2007). "Death of Youth in Rab Action". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
52. (18 February 2005). "Rapid Action Battalion won't be used for political purpose".
53. (3 May 2013). "Bangladesh: End Unlawful Violence Against Protesters". [[Human Rights Watch]].
54. (4 April 2017). "Exclusive: Officer Exposes Brutal Killings by Bangladeshi Elite Police Unit RAB". [[Swedish Radio]].
55. [https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/ranking/release/bipartisan-letter-calls-for-sanctions-on-bangladeshi-battalion-for-extrajudicial-killings-enforced-disappearances-torture Bipartisan Letter Calls for Sanctions on Bangladeshi Battalion for Extrajudicial Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture]
56. (28 October 2020). "Extrajudicial killings: US senators seek sanction on senior RAB officials". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
57. (28 October 2020). "US senators call for sanction on RAB officials engaged in 'extrajudicial killing'". [[The Business Standard]].
58. (29 October 2020). "Extrajudicial Killings: 10 US senators for sanctions on Rab high-ups". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]].
59. "Bangladesh: Rapid Action Battalion shot innocent college student into permanent disability and now threatening sympathizers to kill extra-judicially".
60. (10 July 2013). "Govt decides to withdraw cases against Limon". [[New Age (Bangladesh)]].
61. "RAB 'framed, beat' Germany-based Bangladeshi expat". [[bdnews24.com]].
62. "Now RAB in plain clothes pick up expat, frame him". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
63. Muktadir Rashid. (30 August 2014). "The List grows Longer". [[New Age (Bangladesh)]].
64. (23 May 2012). "Bangladesh: Enforced disappearance of Messrs. Al Mukaddas and Mohammad Waliullah".
65. "Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Bangladesh - Wikipedia".
66. (2025-07-28). "RFKHR Visit to RAB Secret Detention Site Underscores the Need for Further Accountability and Reform Efforts".
67. (2025-03-11). "Letter to the U.N. Secretary-General in advance of his visit to Bangladesh".
68. "Human rights in Bangladesh".
69. "World Report 2024: Bangladesh".
70. "Rapid Action Battalion".
71. "Global Magnitsky Designations; North Korea Designations; Burma-related Designations; Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List Update".
72. "Letter to the US seeking withdrawal of sanctions on RAB". [[Prothom Alo]].
73. (5 February 2022). "Congressman Meeks says he strongly supports sanctions on RAB and its officials". [[Dhaka Tribune]].