Rab wants to work as a riverine force too
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), an elite force, has sought to form a well-equipped riverine battalion to secure mainland waters and southern coastlines as criminal gangs appeared to have gained extra strength for robbery.
"Works are underway to prepare a proposal (for the government approval) to form a full-fledged riverine battalion with capacity to conduct raids in remote areas using waterways," Rab's Director General Mukhlesur Rahman told the news agency.
He said Rab sought to form the battalion to be equipped with fast moving boats and ships so that they could conduct raids at remotest channels in coastlines and particularly inside the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, in quickest possible time.
Rahman said crimes-prone riverine areas such as the Sundarbans, Bagherhat, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barguna, Chittagon and Barisal as well as the areas under the Rab-6 and Rab-7 would be the jurisdiction of the specialised battalion.
"Formation of the battalion in the Rab will also help us carry out emergency evacuations during cyclones in the coastlines," he said.
The Rab move came a month after authorities called out navy and air force to join coastguard and police to carry out a massive security clampdown in the Sundarbans and adjoining coastlines as robbers kidnap fishermen for ransom.
Home Minister Shahara Khatun has recently said the ministry has decided to form a marine police unit to check various crimes including extortion and robberies in waterways and check indiscriminate movement of oil tankers on the river routes in the night.
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