Bangladesh has decided to shut down a notorious police unit that had been accused of human rights violations and abuses. The “Rapid Action Battalion” (RAB) police unit had carried out harsh actions against social protests and political dissent for years, drawing significant criticism.
The Bangladeshi government presented the decision as part of an effort to reform the police system in the country. Officials stated that the aim is to improve police behavior and protect human rights. It was also announced that members of the Rapid Action Battalion would be transferred to other police units, and the unit’s operations would be severely limited.
Following this decision, human rights organizations have hailed it as an important step, although they expressed concerns about whether the government will implement similar reforms across other police units to fully end abuses.
