Human rights groups urge UN to ban 'abusive' Bangladesh's RAB from peacekeeping operations

As many as twelve human rights organisations have urged United Nations to terminate Banglesh's Rapid Action Battalion's (RAB) peace operations, citing abuses committed by "notorious" paramilitary troops. In a letter to Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, me public on Thursday, rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and more voiced concerns over credible evidence of "extrajudicial killings, torture and enforced disappearances by members of unit since its creation in 2004." As per reports, letter was dressed to Department of Peacekeeping Operations about two months ago on November 8, 2021, and is yet to receive a formal response.

"Secretary-general Guterres about any human rights abuses by UN peacekeepers, he will ensure that units with proven records of abuse like Rapid Action Battalion are excluded from deployment," said Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, which is one of signatories in letter.

In letter, human rights groups opposed deployment of former RAB service members on UN missions, despite credible documents proving ir involvement in promoting and conducting abuses on civilians. " evidence is clear; now it is time for UN to draw line, Kerry ded.

It is to mention that in December 2021, US government listed RAB as a "foreign entity responsible for or complicit in, or has directly or indirectly engaged in serious human rights abuse," as per Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. US also sanctioned seven current and former officials of RAB, including Banglesh Police Chief Benazir Ahmed. Banglesh government h vehemently denied such allegations with denials and repressive measures against families of human rights defenders families. victims are forced to sign false statements and repeatedly threatened and intentionally misled by state police, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported.

signatories in joint letter also called on for a transparent screening process of RAB officials, who are mostly senior military personnel reporting to Banglesh Home Ministry. Currently, RAB conducts a "systematic screen applied only at higher ranks" by Banglesh National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). " NHRC cannot be objective unfactual in execution of ir role in screening process considering ongoing reports of its politicisation," joint letter wrote.

Allegations of human rights abuses 'long-standing concern': UNHCR

It is to mention that RAB was created in 2004 to combat extremism and serious crimes in Banglesh. However, rapid action force has been accused of human rights violations on multiple occasions, including involvement in a gunfight to execute alleged criminals. Since 2018, national NGOs have alleged that RAB was responsible for nearly 600 killings. However, members of RAB are eligible to participate in UN peacekeeping operations "without any previous investigation" into alleged accusations of violence. In 2020, Banglesh remained highest contributor to UN mission, deploying 6,731 uniformed personnel.

In March 2021, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet raised concern over "torture and ill-treatment by RAB" that has been a "long-standing concern."

(Image: AP)