No reason to worry about sanctions: PM tells RAB

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) not to be worried or upset about the recently imposed sanctions by the USA on some of its officials.

The premier also asked RAB members to work with confidence, reports UNB.

"This is our country that was achieved through the sacrifice of blood. We know who does what and we will judge them," she said on Sunday while addressing the 19th founding anniversary of RAB at the RAB headquarters in the capital's Kurmitola.

"We will have to identify those who tarnish institutions of Bangladesh by carrying out propaganda and defaming Bangladesh. We'll have to find out why they are doing it," she said, adding, "There is another class of people who defame Bangladesh before foreigners and they get financial or other benefits for it."

About cybercrimes, the prime minister said, "We'll have to be careful against cybercrimes and take action accordingly. I would like to tell all, including RAB and every intelligence agency, that they will have to play a proper role in this regard."

Hasina said digital Bangladesh is for the welfare of the people not for sufferings, added the UNB report.

About the activities of teenage gangs, PM Hasina said parents, teachers and public representatives alongside the law enforcement agencies also have the responsibility to work for eliminating the teenage gangs.

The premier also asked the RAB to give more focus on containing drug abuse to protect the youth from drug addiction.

"We're getting self-sufficient and developed financially. But the adverse impact of drugs is getting high at the same time. Many people are getting addicted to drugs," she said, adding that this social disease is spreading from the high-class to low-class people.

Talking about the commodity prices during the upcoming Ramadan, the PM asked all the authorities concerned to ensure none will suffer during the Ramadan month.

"We see a peculiar trend in our country – some people seek to make profit during the Ramadan though it is a month of austerity. All should pay attention so that the general people won't suffer," she said.

PM Hasina said the RAB has successfully been conducting drives against food adulteration as well.  

She also appreciated the RAB's activities in successfully tackling the terrorism, militancy, and piracy in Bangladesh's most important place, the Sundarbans.

Hasina said the elite force RAB has earned the people's trust and confidence by containing various crimes successfully and destroying networks of the militants and terrorists through its nationwide massive crackdown.

The prime minister said her government has been able to declare the Sundarbans, where the people of the locality did not even lead their lives normally, free from pirates in 2018 due to the praise worthy role of the RAB.

Sheikh Hasina said "I believe that the force will play its role as it did in the past with due dutifulness, effectiveness and activeness to maintain peace and stability of the country." 

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and RAB Director General Addl. IGP M Khurshid Hossain also spoke at the programme.