POBNEWS24, Dhaka Dec 18, 2021 : A new USA government report has positively highlighted the role of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite force in Bangladesh, in controlling terrorism in Bangladesh.
It has been told that the role of RAB has reduced terrorism in Bangladesh.
The report was released by the US State Department on Thursday night, almost a week after imposing sanction on the RAB and its seven former and current top officials.
In the context of Bangladesh, the report said, “Investigations and arrests of terrorism-related incidents in Bangladesh have increased in 2020, while terrorist activities have decreased”.
Another report states that “throughout 2020, the RAB and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTCU) launched community policing activities and arrested suspected foreign terrorist fighters as well as counter-terrorism activities and rehabilitation programmes”.
The report was released by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. According to the report, there were three specific terrorist attacks that took place in Bangladesh in 2020.
No one was killed in those attacks. In recent years, the Bangladeshi government has denied reports of significant links between local terrorists and international terrorist groups such as IS.
According to the report, a special anti-terrorism tribunal sentenced seven people to death in 2019 for aiding and abetting the attack on the Holy Artisan Bakery in the capital in 2016. Their appeal is awaiting for disposal in the High Court.
The report states that Bangladesh has cooperated with the United States in strengthening controls at borders and entry points.
It further said that the international community is concerned about the security process at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. US-trained explosives detector K9 team is ready for security at Dhaka International Airport. But they have no permanent presence at the airport.
The report mentioned Bangladesh’s close cooperation with the International Police Organization.
However, it was mentioned that there is no precautionary system against terrorism in Bangladesh.
