Rab fails to roll for lack of funds
Staff Correspondent
Six months after the swift passage of a law to set up the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) to curb rising crimes, the force is yet to go into action as it did not get funds allocation. The home ministry completed Rab's organogram three months ago and sent a file to the finance ministry for funds. The ministry agreed to foot the bills for the special force but is yet to decide how the funds will be allocated. State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar told The Daily Star last night that Rab will swing into action 'soon'. "We are satisfied with the way Rab is developing," he said. The home ministry sought Tk 439 crore to form seven units of Rab with 5,000 members -- 60 percent from police and 40 percent from the army, navy, air force and the BDR. The existing 275-member Rapid Action Team (Rat) will be merged with Rab when the new force starts operation. Rab will have a gang crime unit and a narcotics crime unit to deal with organised cartels. There will also be a specialised investigation unit to probe money laundering, fraud, homicide and such crimes. Two Special Weapons and Tactics (SWT) teams of Rab will deal with criminals possessing sophisticated firearms. Its divers and paratroopers will carry out special operations.
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