Online Desk :
The 17th founding anniversary of the anticrime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is being observed today.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the members of the RAB on the occasion.
The President, in his message, said the Rapid Action Battalion has been playing an admirable role in improving the law and order situation in the country, ensuring the safety and security of people with professionalism, efficiency and dedication since its inception.
The force, in the meantime, occupied a firm position among the people as a symbol of confidence and dependence in maintaining the law and order across the country, he observed.
“I am recalling the contribution of RAB members, who embraced martyrdom in maintaining the law and order situation of the country, with profound respect,” Abdul Hamid said.
Today, Bangladesh is a marvel of development all over the world. In line with the changing global context, the government has adopted various visionary plans including Vision 2021 and 2041 to accelerate the socio-economic development of the country, he said.
“One of the preconditions for reaching benefits of development plans to the doorsteps of common people is to ensure effective law and order and public safety,” the President said.
He also asked the RAB members to serve the citizens by working with honesty, devotion, efficiency and professionalism.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said since its inception, the RAB has been playing a very important role in maintaining the law and order and ensuring public security and sustainable development with patriotism, responsibility, professionalism, honesty and dedication.
“The forces have been identifying corrupt and panic creators and bringing them under the law and ensuring exemplary punishment in order to implement the Awami League government’s firm commitment against corruption, anarchy and terrorism,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the RAB members have been playing a very significant role by ensuring necessary security of lives and livelihoods in coastal belts, freeing the Sundarbans and adjoining villages from terrorism and pirates, facilitating the return of surrendered bandits to normal life and preserving biodiversity there as well.
“The RAB forces have been conducting continuous drives to curb corruption, militancy, religious fundamentalism, illegal drugs, use of lethal weapons, violence against women and children, food adulteration and counterfeit and playing a significant role,” she added.
The Prime Minister praised the RAB members for their leading role against corruption, terrorism, religious extremism, illegal drug trade, use of firearms and its trading, violence against women, and children, health-hazardous adulterated food items, leakage of question papers and other anti-social crimes in the country.
“Our government has adopted a multi-dimensional action plan to modernize, expand and improve quality of RAB forces, as it is constantly sharpening its efforts in building a progressive modern Bangladesh free from crime,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that the RAB members, being imbued with the spirit of Liberation War, would continue its efforts to build a non-communal, developed and self-reliant Bangladesh envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She also greeted the RAB members on the occasion and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls of the RAB members who had to sacrifice their valuable lives at different times.
With a view to fighting terrorism, the RAB was formed on March 26 in 2004 and it started operation on July 21 the same year.
