Bangladesh's elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has killed 400 people since it was formed in mid-2004 to combat crimes in the South Asian nation, the head of the force was quoted as saying on Thursday. It was last Thursday, but I've been jonesing for a little "crossfire" action.
The alleged "terrorists" were killed in "encounters" in which officers shot back after suspects resisted arrest by opening fire, state-run BSS news agency quoted RAB director general Hasan Mahmud Khandaker as saying.
That's the "story" and they're "sticking" to it.
"The government has given firearms to us to use them according to the laws, and rules and regulations. If anyone violates the laws, he must be punished," he told a human rights conference in the southeastern town of Cox's Bazar.
RAB = Judge Dread
Local and international rights groups including Amnesty International have described "encounters" as extra-judicial killings, and they have demanded full probe into all such incidents.
I think we've covered about 200 of those 400 "encounters" here. They pretty much follow the same script; Arrest, trip to station, question, confession, road trip, 2AM, arms cache, dark alley, cohorts, sense presence of cops, open fire, return fire, escape attempt, crossfire, "rosebud", hospital morgue, Dr. Quincy, "He's dead, Jim", shutter gun, two round of bullet, wanted on twelve systems, etc. But hey, who's to say it's not just a long series of tragic accidents.
But authorities in Bangladesh have defended the force, saying it has contributed to a marked improvement in law and order in the country.
| After all, there's 400 fewer Biplobis compared to a few years back. Would that they have fewer Islamicists. |