Libya killings: Everyone involved will be brought to book, says Rab

Director General of Rapid Action Battalion Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun said those involved in human trafficking and the killing of 26 Bangladeshis in Libya will not be spared and appropriate legal action will be taken against them.

"What happened in Libya is tragic and we have already arrested the mastermind behind it. We will not give concessions to anyone and our operation is still going on," the DG said during a ceremony at Rab's media centre in Karwan Bazar today.

On May 28, 30 migrant workers, including 26 Bangladeshis, were shot dead in Libya by a human trafficking ring. The four others killed in the shooting were Africans. Eleven more people were injured in the incident.

Afterwards, law enforcers started an all-out operation in the country. So far, members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Detective Branch (DB) and CID have arrested around 21 members of the human trafficking ring. Several of them have been remanded and some have given confessional statements.

The Rab DG also provided financial assistance to four family members of journalists who died from Covid-19 infection.

Operations during Covid-19

Lt Col Sarwar-Bin-Quasem, director of Rab's legal and media wing, said they have arrested around 2,000 people involved with narcotics trade and recovered narcotics worth around Tk 60 to 70 crores.

The elite force has also arrested around 26 people for their involvement in spreading rumors and around 50 to 60 sites remain under the scanner.

Rab Additional Director General (Operations) Colonel Tofail Mostafa Sarwar said, "We have tried to make a model for coronavirus treatment and took steps to reduce the pressure on hospitals."

"By renting community centers in the country, we have set up temporary hospitals. We have hired some nurses and paramedics and patients are being treated there. All sorts of arrangements have been made there, including oxygen supply," he said.

"We have also created an app to know the updates of the affected members of Rab. We will get information about the number of members infected through the app," said the additional DG.