New York, NY (BBN)– Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Bangladesh to establish an independent, external, accountability entity to conduct prompt, impartial, and independent investigations into all allegations of violations by law enforcement agencies including the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guards Bangladesh.
“Any trials of RAB officers should be conducted in civilian courts to ensure that the process is independent and impartial,” Brad Adams, executive director of the HRW Asia Division, said in a letter on Tuesday to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Adams also said military courts and RAB’s internal accountability mechanisms have long failed to ensure accountability for previous serious human rights violations.
“While your government has already established an investigating committee on the orders of the High Court, the investigations should not be limited to the Narayanganj incident. Human Rights Watch has long documented abuses by RAB, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings, often masked as “crossfire” deaths,” the HRW executive director noted.
The New York-based rights organisation also recommended that the RAB be disbanded, and replaced with a fully accountable civilian law enforcement agency dedicated to fighting organized crime and terrorism.
“Make clear and strong public statements, at the highest political and institutional levels, condemning unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, and other violations by law enforcement agencies and committing to holding accountable those involved in planning, ordering, or carrying out violations,” the HRW said.
BBN/SSR/AD-14May14-2:06 pm (BST)
