RAB DG apologises for the elite forces' crimes, including seven murders in Narayanganj

Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Additional IGP KM Shahidur Rahman has apologised for enforced disappearances, murders including the seven murders in Narayanganj.

During a press briefing at the RAB Media Center in Karwan Bazar this noon (12 December) he said, "I am apologising for incidents like the seven murder in Narayanganj. There are some accusations of enforced disappearances and murder against RAB, and the force can be acquitted from these accusations only through proper investigation and justice."

He also said the force will not engage in any activities such as enforced disappearances, murders as long as he is in command.

The RAB DG also said the incident of firing at the protesters from helicopters is currently being investigated.

"RAB never supports such irresponsible behaviour. I am urging everyone to provide specific proof. Representatives of UN Fact Finding Mission had also asked for information from us, which we have provided. RAB will work heartily to keep the law and order situation under control," the DG said.

During the event, the RAB DG confessed that the force had operated Aynaghar, a secret prison, allegedly used by the law enforcement agencies, confirming Aynaghar remains unchanged as per the direction of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.

"We have kept it in the same condition as it was before. No changes have been made," Shahidur Rahman replied in response to a journalist's query.

When asked about BNP's proposal to disband RAB, the DG said he will accept any decision taken by the government.

Mentioning that a total of 16 RAB officials have been detained for involvement in various crimes since the political changeover on 5 August till now, the DG added, "Evidences of extortion, drugs and snatching have been found against them, based on which steps are being taken."

During the press conference, the RAB DG also said since the formation of the force, a total of 58 officers and 4,246 members of RAB have been punished for various offences.

The Narayanganj seven murders

On 27 April 2014, Narayanganj City Corporation panel mayor Nazrul Islam, his three associates and driver were abducted from Fatullah.

Senior lawyer at the District Judge's Court Chandan Kumar Sarkar and his driver were abducted on their way to the capital.

Three days after the incident, the bodies of six of them, including Nazrul and Chandan, were recovered from the River Shitalakhya.

The following day, the body of Nazrul's car driver Jahangir was recovered from the river.

The seven were murdered under Kanchpur bridge in Narayanganj, leaked phone conversations between prime suspect Nur Hossain and a former Rab official.

According to a report by The Daily Star, the seven were taken to a sand quarry, owned by Hossain, beside the Shitalakkhya river, and then murdered, according to the phone conversation reportedly at the time of the abduction and murder of the seven.

Law enforcers probing the seven murders said they had copies of the audio tape.

At one stage of the dialogue, an impatient and irate voice, allegedly of Hossain, was heard, "What kind of … are you that you need so long to kill?"

According to the contents of the audio tape, Hossain and the ex-Rab official had been in touch over the phone throughout -- from abduction to dumping of the bodies into the Shitalakkhya.

On 15 May 2014, law enforcers conducted drive at Nur's house in Shimrail area of Siddhirganj upazila and seized a foreign revolver, eight rounds of bullet and eight shotgun shells. Later, a case was filed at Siddhirganj police station under the Arms Act in this regard.

The court sentenced Nur Hossain to life term rigorous imprisonment under two sections of the act.

On 22 August 2017, the High Court upheld the death sentence of 15 convicts, including Nur and three Rapid Action Battalion officials, and commuted the penalty of 11 others to life term jail in two cases filed over the seven-murder