DT e-Paper 06 April 2017

24
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017
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Bangabandhu’s unfinished
memoirs to be reprinted in Hindi
• Syed Zainul Abedin
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
will launch a new Hindi version of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman’s The Unfinished Memoirs
at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on April 8.
The autobiography of Father of the Nation
was first published in June 2012 in
Bangla under the name Asamapta Atmajibanee,
and in English. It is also already available
in Chinese, Japanese, French, Urdu and
Arabic.
Bangabandhu wrote Asamapta Atmajibanee
during his time in prison from1967 to
1969.
The memoirs recall his life from his
childhood through to the social and political
involvements of his student life and the
events which shaped the origin of the independence
movement in Bangladesh following
the partition of India. •
Radio Sweden report
spurs RAB probe
• Arifur Rahman Rabbi
Allegations of torture and extrajudicial killing
made against RAB in a report by Radio Sweden
would be investigated, a RAB spokesperson
yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune. But he
expressed doubts about the veracity of the
report.
The elite force official also questioned
whether the informant quoted in the report
was a RAB official and added that if he were,
he should be prosecuted.
RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Mufti
Mahmud Khan said: “Radio Sweden’s report
is unclear. They have published news based
on the recorded conversation of a so-called
RAB official. If a real RAB official has actually
said such things, then legal actions should
be taken against him. There are also various
gaps in the story; many vague terms have
been used.
“Irrespective of this, since the issue has
come to light, we will definitely look into the
matter.”
The Radio Sweden report, published on its
website on April 4, is based on a taped conversation
with an alleged high-ranking Rapid
Action Battalion (RAB) officer, who was unaware
that he was being recorded.
The informant tells of abductions, the
preparation of kill lists and the murder of individuals
targeted for execution by the force.
He details the brutal methods employed by
RAB during these operations. He also describes
how weapons are planted near the
victim’s remains to give the impression that
RAB members acted in self-defence.
Mufti added: “RAB always operates within
the law. Sometimes we conduct operations
to capture petty criminals, dacoits, terrorists
MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
or militants and in those cases, when RAB officials
come under fire, they need to defend
themselves by returning fire.
“Sometimes during the exchange of fire,
people die. During these drives, many RAB
officials have also been injured and maimed
and some have even died. The bottom line
is that RAB has caught a lot of criminals over
the span of its career. Over the course of its
career, there have been many attempts made
to tarnish its reputation.”
Local and international rights groups have
accused RAB of abducting and murdering
several hundred people. They allege that
the elite force enjoys impunity for such killings
and have repeatedly demanded that the
“death squad” be disbanded.
A report by human rights watchdog Ain
o Salish Kendra said between January 1 and
March 14 this year, RAB killed six people in
gunfights or crossfires.
Responding to queries about the report,
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque said: “We have
learned about this after it was reported in various
news media. If these allegations are true,
then the matter should definitely be investigated
and the culprits should be punished.
“Since this report originated in the Swedish
media, we cannot know all the facts for
sure. If we can verify that the source is legitimate,
we can then investigate the allegations
raised in the report. If it appears that human
rights have truly been violated, then we will
approach the authorities concerned to take
action.
“I think the government should conduct an
investigation into the allegations. If anyone is
found to be guilty of such actions, then they
should take measures to punish them.” •
Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower,
8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com