In Bangladesh, RAB and Army has joined hands to hunt for members of new terror group. Rapid action battalion has launched operations in several regions. Militants were allegedly being trained in remote hill tracts.

Bangladesh: RAB and Army join hands to hunt for members of new terror group

Bangladesh's elite paramilitary force Rapid Action Battalion is under the international scanner over alleged political violence under the guise of a war on drugs. The US imposed sanctions on RAB.

The US impose extensive human rights-related sanctions on Bangladesh's paramilitary force RAB

The United States has imposed extensive human rights-related sanctions on Bangladesh's paramilitary force, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The sanctions took aim at officials accused of political violence in Bangladesh under the guise of a war on drugs.

Bangladesh's seven RAB officials sanctioned by US

Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Thursday arrested a ‘top leader’ of banned extremist outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen during a raid at Dhaka's Basila.

Bangladesh's RAB arrests suspected JMB leader from Dhaka

Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a top leader of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Imdadul Haque alias Uzzwal Master from Dhaka's Basila area.

Terror hideout raided in Dhaka, top JMB leader detained

After Bangladesh’s counter-terror forces foiled attempts of the banned terrorist organisation, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), trying to recruit Rohingyas from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the country’s elite counter-terrorism force – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is setting up a dedicated battalion to monitor the Rohingyas.

RAB is setting up the 15th battalion – RAB 15 based out of Cox’s Bazar, where Rohingya refugee camps have been set up. This new battalion will be called ‘Parbattoya Battalion’. The headquarters of the RAB-15 will be Cox’s Bazar.

In November 2018, the home ministry of Bangladesh issued the notification of setting up of this new battalion – RAB-15. “The battalion will strengthen security at the refugee camps, keeping a close eye on the movements of Rohingyas, maintain law and order in the three hill districts – Rangamati, Bandarbans, and Khagrachhari besides Cox’s Bazar,” said Rapid Action Battalion, Director General, Rapid Action Battalion.

This decision of setting up a new battalion came in the wake of JMB’s plan of recruiting Rohingyas coming to light in December 2018, when the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit’s Special Action Group arrested three persons - Abdul Hakim, Noma, and Shafi from Dhaka. As many as 30 commando knives, one dagger, one machete, one improvised explosive device container and 1.5kg of explosives were recovered from their possession.

On further interrogation, Abdul Hakim admitted that he was the regional chief of JMB's Cox’s Bazar unit.

Noman confessed that he was JMB’s Chittagong military chief, while Shafi admitted that he was an active member of the terror group. They also admitted that the commando knives were procured from Myanmar and brought into the Cox Bazar through Rohingya carriers.

“These three JMB men were working in the Rohingya refugee camps since 2016. The men were recruiting members for their organisation in disguise of funding aid to the Rohingya camp. They had almost recruited at least 40 terrorist members from the camp. However, security forces foiled the attempt just in time with these three arrests,” added Ahmed.

Sources reveal that a lot of ethnic groups are coming under attack as a result of which they are crossing over the Naf river that separates Myanmar and Bangladesh and settling in the Rohingya camps, RAB-15 will also push back those crossing over into the Bangladesh territory.

This apart, RAB-15 will also be watchful on cross-border smuggling of drugs and human trafficking being rampant in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar.

After Bangladesh’s counter-terror forces foiled attempts of the banned terrorist organisation, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), trying to recruit Rohingyas from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the country’s elite counter-terrorism force – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is setting up a dedicated battalion to monitor the Rohingyas.

After Bangladesh’s counter-terror forces foiled attempts of the banned terrorist organisation, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), trying to recruit Rohingyas from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the country’s elite counter-terrorism force – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is setting up a dedicated battalion to monitor the Rohingyas. RAB is setting up the 15th battalion – RAB 15 based out of Cox’s Bazar, where Rohingya refugee camps have been set up. This new battalion will be called ‘Parbattoya Battalion’. The headquarters of the RAB-15 will be Cox’s Bazar. In November 2018, the home ministry of Bangladesh issued the notification of setting up of this new battalion – RAB-15. “The battalion will strengthen security at the refugee camps, keeping a close eye on the movements of Rohingyas, maintain law and order in the three hill districts – Rangamati, Bandarbans, and Khagrachhari besides Cox’s Bazar,” said Rapid Action Battalion, Director General, Rapid Action Battalion. This decision of setting up a new battalion came in the wake of JMB’s plan of recruiting Rohingyas coming to light in December 2018, when the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit’s Special Action Group arrested three persons - Abdul Hakim, Noma, and Shafi from Dhaka. As many as 30 commando knives, one dagger, one machete, one improvised explosive device container and 1.5kg of explosives were recovered from their possession. On further interrogation, Abdul Hakim admitted that he was the regional chief of JMB's Cox’s Bazar unit. Noman confessed that he was JMB’s Chittagong military chief, while Shafi admitted that he was an active member of the terror group. They also admitted that the commando knives were procured from Myanmar and brought into the Cox Bazar through Rohingya carriers. “These three JMB men were working in the Rohingya refugee camps since 2016. The men were recruiting members for their organisation in disguise of funding aid to the Rohingya camp. They had almost recruited at least 40 terrorist members from the camp. However, security forces foiled the attempt just in time with these three arrests,” added Ahmed. Sources reveal that a lot of ethnic groups are coming under attack as a result of which they are crossing over the Naf river that separates Myanmar and Bangladesh and settling in the Rohingya camps, RAB-15 will also push back those crossing over into the Bangladesh territory. This apart, RAB-15 will also be watchful on cross-border smuggling of drugs and human trafficking being rampant in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar.

Bangladesh’s RAB setting up new battalion to prevent Rohingyas from joining terrorist organisation JMB

Days after Bangladesh’s elite counter-terrorism unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) unearthed a plot of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) trying to sabotage upcoming elections with the help of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders, the RAB chief Benazir Ahmed made some startling revelation in an exclusive interaction with Wion.

He said that Pakistan authorities have confirmed that politicians from their country are in touch with a Bangladesh political party to rig polls are scheduled for December 30.

"We have enough inputs shared by our counterparts in Pakistan that some Pakistan based politicians were in touch with a political party in Bangladesh. We have been given specific inputs and we are working on it," said RAB chief.&nbsp;

Ahmed also said that the huge amount of money recovered from two locations in Dhaka was part of a conspiracy aimed to influence voters.

"The money was brought to Bangladesh through hawala and the hundis. It was sourced from middle-eastern countries aimed to influence voters and use the money to create tension by violence. The day we raided these offices on December 25 was the same day a huge amount of money was sent to Shariatpur constituency, later the area witnessed widespread violence," added Ahmed.&nbsp;

Most importantly, Ahmed said that this could be just the tip of the iceberg.&nbsp;

"This is a part of an organised network. We found registers that contained recent entries. The details mentioned constituencies and the amount of black money distributed. We are tracking the money trail," Ahmed said.&nbsp;

On being quizzed whether the acting chairman of the BNP, Tarique Rahman who is on a self-imposed exile in London held meetings with ISI agency regarding the monetary transaction, he said that the possibility that cannot be ruled out.

The RAB is also investigating whether the phone conversation that had surfaced between a BNP leader and ISI agency had any connection with the raid.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Days after Bangladesh’s elite counter-terrorism unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) unearthed a plot of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) trying to sabotage upcoming elections with the help of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders, the RAB chief Benazir Ahmed made some startling revelation in an exclusive interaction with Wion.

Days after Bangladesh’s elite counter-terrorism unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) unearthed a plot of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) trying to sabotage upcoming elections with the help of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders, the RAB chief Benazir Ahmed made some startling revelation in an exclusive interaction with Wion. He said that Pakistan authorities have confirmed that politicians from their country are in touch with a Bangladesh political party to rig polls are scheduled for December 30. "We have enough inputs shared by our counterparts in Pakistan that some Pakistan based politicians were in touch with a political party in Bangladesh. We have been given specific inputs and we are working on it," said RAB chief. Ahmed also said that the huge amount of money recovered from two locations in Dhaka was part of a conspiracy aimed to influence voters. "The money was brought to Bangladesh through hawala and the hundis. It was sourced from middle-eastern countries aimed to influence voters and use the money to create tension by violence. The day we raided these offices on December 25 was the same day a huge amount of money was sent to Shariatpur constituency, later the area witnessed widespread violence," added Ahmed. Most importantly, Ahmed said that this could be just the tip of the iceberg. "This is a part of an organised network. We found registers that contained recent entries. The details mentioned constituencies and the amount of black money distributed. We are tracking the money trail," Ahmed said. On being quizzed whether the acting chairman of the BNP, Tarique Rahman who is on a self-imposed exile in London held meetings with ISI agency regarding the monetary transaction, he said that the possibility that cannot be ruled out. The RAB is also investigating whether the phone conversation that had surfaced between a BNP leader and ISI agency had any connection with the raid.

Pakistan leaders are trying to meddle upcoming Bangladesh elections: RAB chief to WION

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