Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General M Khurshid Hossain today (Thursday, April 13, 2023) said the letter threatening attack on Mangal Shobhajatra was sent to a Fine Arts Institute’s student to create panic and it is not a threat from militants. “The letter was sent to create panic. It has nothing to do with politics,” he said while talking to reporters at the Ramna Batamul in the capital after inspecting the security arrangements at the venue for the Bangla New Year celebrations on Friday. Read more: Pohela Boishakh: Mangal Shovajatra to be arranged with global perspectives in mind this year Regarding the security for Pahela Baishakh celebrations, he said  the Rab commando team is ready to deal with any kind of situation that may arise, as well as each Rab battalion has started special intelligence surveillance across the country.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Director General (DG) M Khurshid Hossain Friday said the escape of two convicted militants from a Dhaka court on November 20 and the fact that they are yet to be arrested is a "failure." "We believe in self-criticism. Two militants escaped; we are not going to deny it. It was our failure as two militants escaped (from the court premises) like that," the Rab DG told the media after visiting the Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital ahead of the 22nd national council of the Awami League there Saturday. Read more: Law enforcers can’t avoid responsibility over militants’ escape: Rab "The militants had been planning the escape for a long time, and we are yet to track them down. However, efforts are underway to arrest them," he added. Abu Siddiq Sohel and Moinul Hasan Shamim, members of the banned militant outfit Ansar-al Islam, were sentenced to death for killing publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan. Read more: Location of escaped militants to be traced soon: Home Minister On November 20, the militants' associates whisked them away from the premises of Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court by beating the law enforcers and spraying some chemicals on their eyes. Later, a case was filed at Kotwali Police Station over the incident.

Adequate arrangements have been made to ensure security for the celebration of Durga Puja without any trouble, said newly-appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) M Khurshid Hossain on Monday. “We are doing cyber monitoring. Intelligence surveillance has become greater than any time before,” he said after inspecting the security measures of the Puja Mandap at Banani in Dhaka. He said there was no specific threat from any quarters despite reports that 50 to 60 young men have remained missing while intelligence officials suspect that they have joined radical groups. Read: Keep vigil against vandalism during Durga Puja: Obaidul Quader asks AL members “No matter how smart they are, they will not succeed,” he said adding that security officials are monitoring the activities of the missing young men who left their homes and remained traceless. “At the end of the puja, we wish to see some good results. We are working on it,” he said. Rab has reinforced intelligence surveillance across the country since September 25 to ensure overall security during Durga Puja. Read Palbari Puja Mandap in Sherpur: Sign of communal harmony for over a century Rab members have been deployed to strengthen security from October 1 to October 6. Apart from carrying out sweeping operations at various important places including Puja mandaps, Rab’s bomb disposal unit is working round the clock for any situation, said the DG. This year, the Durga Puja began on Saturday, with the incarnation (bodhon) of the Goddess in temples across the country. Read With scars from 2021, Cumilla sees tighter security for Durga Puja The five-day Durga Puja festival will culminate with the immersion of idols on October 5. Close to 8 percent of Bangladesh’s more than 160 million people are Hindu.

Outgoing Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has said that the elite force has established itself as a role model of law enforcement in the country and in the global arena. “Rab force has achieved trust and confidence of the people of the country due to its members’ competency and bravery,” the DG said during a view exchange meeting with journalists on Wednesday. During the meeting, the Rab DG highlighted many success of the force that have been achieved during his tenure. “The government has zero-tolerance- policy against terrorism. During my tenure, Rab detained around 800 terrorists of different organizations. After taking over as Rab chief, I started a rehabilitation program for the militants. Under this de-radicalization and rehabilitation programme, nine militants surrendered and returned to normal lives in 2021,” said Chowdhury. The DG added that the Sundarbans has become robber-free due to drives conducted by Rab. Read: Incumbent Rab DG Chowdhury Abdullah appointed as new IGP “Under my command, the Sundarbans became safe through the surrender of 328 robbers from 32 robbery gangs. On the third anniversary of making the forest robber-free, Rab distributed fishing nets, engine boats, domestic animals, shops and houses among these people so that they can lead a normal life and earn their livelihoods in a legal way,” he added. The DG mentioned that besides the Sundarbans, Rab also secured Chattogram’s Banshkhali and Cox’s Bazar’s Maheshkhali and Kutubdia coasts as drives conducted by the elite force resulted into the surrender of 77 robbers  from 12 robbers gangs in 2020. Besides terrorism and robbery, the Rab DG also talked about the force’s contributions in dealing with the drugs issue.   “ I took initiatives to close the routes and channels of drugs movement alongside detaining the drug dealers. Around 36,000 drug traders and dealers were detained and drugs worth Tk 2,300 crore were seized by Rab during my time,” said the Rab DG. 

Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Saturday said necessary security measures have been taken across the country for the smooth and peaceful observance of the Amar Ekushey and International Mother Language Day on Sunday.

Director General of Rapid Action Battalion ( Rab) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun on Friday said the investigation into the killing of retired Major Sinha Rashed Khan has made positive progress and the case will be settled soon.

Regent Hospital Chairman Mohammad Shahed was arrested based on information given by the hospital’s managing director Masud Parvej, said Director-General of Rapid Action Battalion Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.

Director General (DG) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Benazir Ahmed on Thursday said there is no security threat centering the International Mother Language Day.