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

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

New Archbishop for Guwahati

3 Mar 2012 - 4:05am | editor
Guwahati is set to get Reverend John Moolachira as the new Archbishop. He is likely to take charge on Monday succeeding Archibishop Thomas Menamparampil who has already retired. The Guwahati...

CM stresses neo Vaishnavism

22 Jul 2017 - 8:32pm | Akshaya Pranab Kalita
Assam chief minister Sarbanabda Sonowal stressed the need to upkeep the neo Vaishnavite culture to honour thr great saint Sankardev and Madhab Dev. Addressing a mammoth gathering in Namrup organized...

Torch rally in Namrup

26 Mar 2018 - 8:02pm | Akshaya Pranab Kalita
Namrup: Hundreds of students in Namrup  took out a torch rally on Monday evening alleging the move for closure of the Assam Women University in Jorhat.  Jointly organized by Namrup and...

Floods In Assam - We need to wake up

28 Jul 2007 - 5:24am | Rituparna Goswami Pande
It’s happening again! With the persistent fury of the rain gods many parts of Assam is reeling under flood waters for the umpteenth time. Year in and year out we witness the damage and...

Other Contents by Author

A.K Absar Hazarika, President of Guwahati Cine Club, Aribam Shyam Sharma, noted Film director, Eminent Bollywood actress Seema Biswas, Eminent film director Girish Kasaravali and other dignitaries seen during the inaugural function of Guwahati Film Festival on 01-02-08 evening at Rabindra Bhawan, Guwahati. Pix by UB Photos.
Union minister for DONER, panchayat, sports and youth welfare Mani Shankar Aiyar has lamented the lack of audience in the North East Games at Sarusajai on Friday while he was visiting the sports complex. During his visit, Mr Aiyer hoped that the north eastern region will produce more and more sports stars. During his visit, the Union minister enjoyed events of the North Easat Games and termed the North East as the birth place of sports stars. He observed that the fund from the Centre to uplift the front has not reached the sports talents. A set of policy should be there to bring the rural boys and girls to the field of sports, he said.
A devastating fire broke out the Bengali Girls’High School in city’s Pltanbazar area on Thursday in the afternoon. According to information, the authorities have yet to ascertain the cause behind the fire but has initially estimated that it has ravaged property worth one crore. Fire brigade was pressed into service to bring the situation under control. It took 2 hours to douse the fire. Details are awaited.
The ruling party which have majority in altogether 15 districts out of 19 which have gone to panchayat polls. Besides preparing to form zilla parishads in 15 districts, the Congress have majority in block level and gaon panchayats in these districts. The party has swept Darrang, Sonitpur, North Lakhimpur,Sivasagar, Jorhat, Tinsukia,Golaghat, Nagaon,Morogaon, Kamrup metro, Kamrup rural,Karimganj and Dhubri districts. The Asom Gana Parishad too is set to form zila parishads in Dhemaji and Bongaigaon But no single party has emerged to form zila parishads alone in Nalbari and Barpeta. On the other had, counting of votes are at a snail’s pace in Cachar district of Barak valley.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday has said Arunachal Pradesh is in the need of a set of strategies for overall development of the state. Addressing a mammoth gathering at the Indira Gandhi Park during his trip the Prime Minister announced some development projects for the state worth Rs 8000 crores including a new rail link, micro hydro projects and grid based power project to cover all border villages. He announced that the north eastern state will get a new greenfield airport in Itanagar besides airports at Passi Ghat, Along, Daporijo, Ziro and Tizu. Dr Singh said the Defence Ministry would also upgrade infrastructure at several areas including Pasi Ghat and Vijai Nagar. A trans-...
An accidental firing rattled Itanagar early in the morning on Tursday. That too before the prime Minister’s maiden visit to the land of rising sun. According to information, a policeman on duty to guard a road through which Prime Minister motorcade was to pass, accidentally fired a bullet injuring a labourer. The injured labourer was being taken to the Guwahati hospital by the Chief Minister's helicopter.The the bullet went off accidentally from the service revolver of an Indian Reserve Battalion constable while he was posted near the Indira Gandhi Park, the venue where the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public meeting.
Assam observes Me-dam-me-fi on Thursday to offer puja the Ahom ancestors with much religious fervour. Several functions are being organised to mark the occasion across the state. In Guwahati, people are offering pujas to the Ahome ancestors with a series of cultural programmes.
Despite a mammoth security arrangement before the Prime Minister’s visit to Itanagar, a shoot out incident has rattled the state capital on Thursday morning. The firing incident that took place early in the morning near the venue for function to be attended by the Prime Minister left one injured who has been rushed to Guwahati by the Chief minister’s helicopter. Top ranked police and civil officials are on the spot to monitor the situation. Investigation is going on.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is arriving in Itanagar on a two day visit to Arunachal on Thursday. During his visit, Dr Singh is schedule to lay the cornerstone of a number of major projects. Of this, the major one will be the 3,000 MW Debang Multi Purpose Hydro Electricity Project. According to NHPC officials, it is the largest in the country to be executed by the power giant. Also Dr Singh is schedule to lay the foundation stone of the Harmoti-Itanagar railway line. He will also visit the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital besides formally inaugurating the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan housing the ruling Congress headquarters and unveil a statue of Indira Gandhi before addressing a public meeting. D...
Hundreds of uncounted ballot papers are being found outside the Panchayat Election Counting centre at Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner's office premises at Dhemaji on 30-01-08 showing great concern over the Panchayat Election counting.Pix by UB Photos.