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Rab and its activities

18 January 2005, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
By Md. Giash Uddin Pathan Sector-03, Uttara Model Town Dhaka.
18 January 2005, 18:00 PM
A lot is being said about Rab and its activities. People have come up with a host of arguments both against and in favour of the activities of Rab; and so has the print media. A section of the press is critical about the activities of Rab, while another is appreciative of its role . The main complaints against Rab are: it is violating human rights, the provisions of the existing laws and of the constitution by shooting and killing the arrested terrorists without trial and without giving them opportunity to defend themselves in the courts of law. And also that Rab is killing the criminals to save their godfathers from facing legal actions or public wrath, because if the criminals are given the opportunity to face trial and defend themselves in courts of law, they may disclose the names of their godfathers who take share of their illegal earnings and benefit themselves in many other ways from the activities of the criminals. Some even argue that both Rab and the members of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) and Janajuddha, are doing the same thing, namely, eliminating people who are corrupt and not safe for society. They say that the government also appreciates the role of Rab for its performance saying that the people who are being arrested and killed by Rab (they say in crossfire) are listed criminals having a number of criminal cases against them. This is also the case with PBCP & Janajuddha, the people being caught and killed by them are mostly corrupt and unsafe for society.

People say Rab should get hold of the godfathers of the listed criminals or terrorists as well, and eliminate them, because unless they are arrested and put behind bars or eliminated they will again recruit criminals once Rab is withdrawn from the field. These corrupt politicians cannot do without rearing criminals and the terrorists and the terrorists and criminals also cannot carry on their activities without the protection of the godfathers.

I am inclined to support this popular argument in favour of catching the godfathers. Some may say that in the absence of evidence or criminal cases against these godfathers, who are mostly politicians or people having both money and clout, it is difficult for Rab to arrest them. Some people have even suggested that Rab will be doing a great job for society by secretly catching and eliminating the godfathers. They say that the present efforts of Rab will not create any lasting or positive impact on the law and order situation if the godfathers are spared and left free or alive; on the other hand people will not be very unhappy to see the notorious godfathers lying dead on the streets or in the drains and jungles killed by unknown assassins.

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I am sometimes tempted to subscribe to these popular views as well. Rab should either prevent the deaths of criminals in crossfire, thus giving them the opportunity to disclose the names of their godfathers, or catch and kill both the criminals and the godfathers.