Skip to content Skip to navigation

RAB's terror in Bangladesh

Rapid Action Battalion [RAB], the most notorious Para military forces in Bangladesh, which is known for its atrocities through extra judicial killing, abduction, rape and collecting ransom, has finally shown its nasty fang with Weekly Blitz editor, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.

Internationally known award winning [recipient of PEN USA Freedom to Write Award in 2005; AJC Moral Courage Award in 2006; Monaco Media Award in 2007 and Key to Engleewood City and Honorary Citizenship - USA in 2007] anti Jihadist journalist Shoaib Choudhury was kidnapped by a heavily armed gang of RAB led by Captain Shafiq on Tuesday evening.

When RAB stormed the Weekly Blitz office, they locked the editor including other employees of the newspaper and its sister concerns inside a room, seizing all cell phones and not allowing any communication, friends or legal counsel.

Almost after an hour and a half, members of the armed men took Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury and another senior member of the newspaper, Mahboob Ar Rahman with them while they looted cash and other valuables from the newspaper office. On arriving at the ground floor of the building, where Weekly Blitz office is located, RAB men blindfolded Mr. Choudhury. Before leaving Weekly Blitz office with the editor and other journalist, RAB's officer reportedly known to be Major Swapan, who is the Deputy Director of RAB-3 passed extremely offensive remarks on journalists and newspapers. Captain Shafiq also abused and humiliated Weekly Blitz editor and other members of the newspaper.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury and Mahboob Ar Rahman were taken to RAB-3 office and were detained there for hours. RAB men verbally abused Choudhury during these hours, repeatedly calling him a "Zionist spy and agent of the Jews". They used expletives to refer to journalists against whom RAB has a record of harassing, and the United States Congress, which passed a resolution in Shoaib's support. The verbal assault, which included numerous threats, continued for another three hours until someone RAB described as a "high government official" telephoned and ordered them to release him."

It is also learnt from the Weekly Blitz editor that RAB men demanded heavy ransom from him while Captain Shafiq told him [the editor] that he [Shafiq] is a notorious man, who has killed 29 people in the name of 'encounter', a regular practice of RAB for killing people. Shafiq and Shaidul Islam alias Swapan asked Mr. Choudhury to work as 'source' for RAB. When Weekly Blitz editor said, it is not his job to work as any source or spy for any organization, RAB men threatened that, they would do the same thing with him in future.

The matter was immediately notified with the Director General of Rapid Action Battalion and other senior officials of the government. But, there is no action yet taken against the RAB team till filling this report.

Meanwhile, Weekly Blitz editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has sent letters to the Chief Advisor, Army Chief and other officials in Bangladesh seeking immediate investigation and necessary actions against the culprits of RAB-3 for such notoriety.

On condition of anonymity, a highly placed source within Rapid Action Battalion told Weekly Blitz that, many officials of the RAB-3 unit are greatly involved in series of criminal activities, including collecting ransom. They maintain close links with some criminal gangs as well in either making money or trapping innocent people and finally end up in extracting money. It is further learnt that, inside RAB-3 compound, most of the interrogation rooms [which are openly seen] are equipped with torturing apparatuses and many of the RAB-3 men are accused of rapid females during interrogation.

It may be further mentioned here that, since its creation, RAB has so far killed more than one thousand people in the name of encounter. More than eighty-six females had already been raped in RAB custody.

By a correspondent in Dhaka

Comments

Anita Mathur's picture

I am not surprised to see that Bangladeshi government, which always appeases Islamists is continuing repression of our HERO. Each of us, who know Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury are aware of the fact that, since 2003, he is facing odds and adversities, because of his works in confronting religious hatred.
Steve Johnson's picture

Bangladesh once again showed its extremely dirty face to the Global Community by arresting courageous journalist Mr. Choudhury. It is well known that policymakers in Dhaka are extremely anti-Semitic and they are also anti West and anti America. I do not understand as to why the people in the West and in the United States are continuing to patronize Bangladesh by buying their readymade garments. There should be an immediate economic embargo on Dhaka.
Dibya J Borthakur's picture

a shameful nation.
Jayanta Sarkar's picture

Rapid Action Battalion or whatever it is called-a totally un professional organisation.It must not be given the status of a special force by world communities but a terrorist force and impose a ban on it.

Pages

Add new comment

Random Stories

3 gang members held with arms and ammunition

28 Jul 2017 - 9:18pm | AT News Imphal
Three illicit drug and arms smugglers who were also involved in hijacking of vehicles were arrested by police and seized weapons, including one Chinese hand grenade, from their possession. The three...

Six footballers shortlisted in Kokrajhar

16 Jun 2016 - 11:08pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Atleast Six footballers were shortlisted in the highly skilled and talented U-15 footballers(boys) selection camp held at SAG SAI ground in Kokrajar district on Thursday. The selection camp was...

Kokrajhar seeks 65 company of security forces

5 Mar 2016 - 9:03pm | Hantigiri Narzary
Kokrajhar district administration has been seek 65 companies of security forces to conduct the upcoming Assam Assembly election in free and fair for three LACs in the district slated to be held on...

Sashanka killing a conspiracy: Bhimkanta

25 Sep 2008 - 3:42am | editor
The killing of ULFA cadre Sashanka Baruah is a conspiracy alleges Ulfa’s political adviser Bhimkanta Burahgohain also popularly known as Mama. The senior member of the ULFA who has been...

Other Contents by Author

Security forces are spreading tentacles to nab the ULFA militants who are unleashing terror in Sivasagar town with a powerful blast that killed one person on Monday evening. Ten others have been injured in the blast who were rushed to the hospital. The injured have been identified as Krishna Sahu, Prakash Yadav, Arun Dey, Hari Sahu, Sadhu Khan. The blast took place amid a simmering war of words between ULFA’s anti-talk faction and superintendent of police. The controversy erupted on Sunday when body of a local youth was found in Sonari. Police claimed it a handiwork of ULFA. ULFA’s anti-talk faction on Monday held SP Akhilesh Singh responsible for the incident. NO...
Fellow Citizens of Bharatvarsha and Friends, Hari Om. You might think this opening statement a pompous beginning to this evening’s proceedings, but as we go along I will endeavour to explain how this is one of the most illuminating ways to address one’s people and how that light shone in Assam over 500 years ago and its effulgence burns to this day in the hearts and minds of every Assamese. It is this spirit of enlightenment that we would like to present and radiate not just here, but throughout India, and to every corner of the globe where human and sincerely secular values have a meaning. In all my life, this is perhaps my proudest moment. At a time when Assam burns...
One person was killed and ten others have been seriously injured when ULFA militants exploded a powerful bomb in Sivasagar town on Monday only to make their presence felt. The explosion took place with a huge sound at around 9 in the evening near the Central Market. The bomb was believed to have been planted at a motor cycle which exploded when the spot was teeming with people. Security forces arrived in the spot. One person died on the spot. The injured have been rushed to the Sarma Nursing Home and some of these people have been rushed to the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh. On the other hand, security forces have cordoned off the entire area in the town launching an operation to...
Krishna Kanta Handique Open University is gearing up for introduction of post graduate courses in a number of subjects from 2012-13 academic session. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Monday, open varsity’s vice chancellor Srinath Baruah said that these new courses include sociology and linguistic on semester system. According to him, the open varsity would impart training to the newly recruited teachers.
Hundreds of Assam Youth Congress and National Students Union of India activists hit the streets in Guwahati on Monday demanding immediate deportation of Bangladeshi immigrants. The protesters said that they wont rest until and unless the immigrants are flushed out. They further alleged that BJP was trying to divide the people in the name of religion and ethnicity. APYC president Piyush Hazarika said that BJP and BJYM were trying to extract political mileage from the immigrants issue.
The opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Monday alleged that FDI in retail would leave lakhs of youths unemployed in Assam. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, party president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta feared that FDI in retail would completely destroy local outlets where lakhs of youths are engage. He said that it would be a shocking chapter in a state like Assam where there is hardly anything to be called industrialization.
The overall flood situation remains unchanged. Toll has gone upto 9 where over ten lakh people rendered homeless in 16 districts. The water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are still rising. Three children drowned in a boat mishap at Makum near Sadiya in Tinsukia district last night while NDRF rescued 42 others. Two others died each in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts and one each in Sibsagar and Nalbari on Sunday. The worst affected districts are Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup (rural and metro), Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sibsagar, Sonitpur and Tinsukia.
Asom Gana Parishad on Monday strongly criticized Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his Japan trip at a time when the state is reeling under devastating flood waves. Talking to reporters in Guwahati, party president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that Gogoi is making a habit to stay abroad in the time of crisis. He further demanded more central funds for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday ordered deployment of helicopters and mechanised boats to step up rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas. Gogoi in his telephonic conversation from Tokyo asked revenue minister Prithibi Majhi, water resources minister Rajib Lochan Pegu and Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das to efficiently deal with the rescue and relief operations. He further ordered adequate food materials be supplied to the affected areas.
The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has announced the third EMFA awards to be held in the second half of January 2013 in the city. The exclusive media forum for the television journalists and non-journalist employees has also invited entries for the 3rd EMFA Media Awards 2012. Addressing the reporters in Guwahati Press club today morning the EMFA has also informed that the entries for the annual awards should be telecast between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2012 through the television channels and those must reach the office of EMFA (c/o Guwahati Press Club, Ambari, Guwahati-781001) by January 7, 2013. The awards will be given in 16 categories comprising on specific reporting,...