RAB CHIEF COMMITTED TO IMPROVED HUMAN RIGHTS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000908

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR SCA/INSB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2029
TAGS: PINS PGOV PINR PTER BG
SUBJECT: RAB CHIEF COMMITTED TO IMPROVED HUMAN RIGHTS
PERFORMANCE

REF: DHAKA 824 - RAB BENCHMARK RECOMMENDATIONS

Classified By: CDA a.i. Nicholas Dean. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D)

Summary
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1. (C) Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General
Hassan Mahmood Khandker outlined to POLOFF RAB procedures for
reviewing incidents involving the use of deadly force,
discussed the recently completed U.S. Marshals visit, and
asked for USG sponsored training. The DG also discussed the
Government of Bangladesh's response to increased criminal and
extremist activity in the south-southwest region of
Bangladesh. To achieve U.S. counter-terrorism (CT) goals in
Bangladesh and beyond, we need to to engage the RAB,
Bangladesh's lead CT organization, by taking advantage of the
goodwill created with the Marshals' visit to promote human
rights reform and increase transparency. The UK is also
sponsoring a series of technical training classes to
supplement human rights courses for the RAB. End Summary.

RAB SOP for Reviewing Use of Force
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2. (C) The RAB DG told POLOFF September 3 that the RAB
investigates internally each incident involving use of force.
Each review takes several weeks to a couple months,
depending on the complexity of the incident. A magistrate
reviews the incident report to determine if the use of force
was in accordance with Bangladesh's laws. The DG said that
if the magistrate determined the use of force was not
justified, then the RAB initiated disciplinary actions that
could include cashiering and prison. DG Khandker did not
have information on the number of personnel disciplined for
excessive use of force although RAB has disciplined over 750
of its personnel, including referring them to courts for
criminal prosecution, for various offenses since its
establishment in 2004. Punishments have included suspension,
dismissal, and imprisonment. The DG was clearly frustrated
with the RAB's international reputation. POLOFF reiterated
to the DG that the United States, as well as the
international community, shared concern over "crossfires"
(extrajudicial killings). The DG replied that his men did
not engage in crossfires. He asked, "What are my men to do
when they are fired upon?" POLOFF emphasized that the RAB
needed to be transparent with the public about RAB operations
involving deadly force and subsequent investigations into the
justification of using force. POLOFF also encouraged the RAB
chief to proactively engage human rights NGOs and civil
society, provide them a point of contact to increase
transparency, share information, and clarify ongoing
misperceptions.

RAB Seeks Additional Training
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3. (C) DG Khandker expressed his appreciation for the recent
United States Marshals' engagement with the RAB (reftel). He
believed the program was a positive experience for both sides
and highlighted the RAB's cooperation in sharing all
information, including the case files for all alleged
"crossfire" incidents. The DG said he hoped the USG would
provide RAB additional training to improve its capabilities,
especially in the area of forensics. (Note: The British
High Commission will provide the RAB with forensic crime
scene management and major incident management training, in
addition to human rights training. The same technical
training will be provided to law enforcement separately. End
Note.)

RAB and Police Respond to Increase in Violent Crime
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4. (S) Mainstream media have reported a notable increase,
since December, in criminal activity, including a series of
violent murders involving the beheading of at least 12
victims in the south-southwest region of Bangladesh. The RAB
DG confirmed the RAB was conducting a series of operations
against criminal gangs, "leftist extremists", and Jamma'atul
Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) members, which the GOB believes
is trying to reconstitute itself. (Note. Bangladeshi
officials frequently use "leftists" as a generic term for
extremists with leftist ties to groups, such as indigenous

DHAKA 00000908 002 OF 002


terrorist organizations. The DG did not clarify the
affiliations of the leftists groups he mentioned. End Note.)
The RAB DG said his personnel faced stiff resistance while
attempting to detain suspects and persons of interest, often
resulting in firefights in which a number of RAB personnel
were wounded. Nur Mohammad, the Inspector General of Police
(IGP) separately confirmed to A/RSO that he had dispatched
police reinforcements to the south-southwest region of
Bangladesh to support the RAB. The IGP also mentioned that
police had suffered injuries during recent operations there.
The Home Ministry recently announced publicly that it would
consider a general amnesty for extremists operating in the
south-southwest if they surrendered to Bangladesh authorities.

Comment
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5. (C) The RAB remains Bangladesh's lead counter-terrorism
unit. Improving the RAB's effectiveness is central to
achieving U.S. antiterrorism goals in Bangladesh and South
Asia. The RAB DG is committed to improving the RAB's human
rights performance and professionalism. Post continues to
advocate for greater transparency, including publishing
details of RAB personnel prosecuted for excessive use of
force and other human rights violations, and for the RAB to
implement a more effective review procedure. The success of
the Marshals' visit highlights the opportunity to enhance our
engagement with the RAB by providing expanded follow-on
Marshal training to improve its human rights performance.


DEAN