Dhaka – Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will celebrate its 13th founding anniversary on Sunday.The elite force officially began its journey by participating in the Independence and National Day parade on March 26 in 2004.The force, consisting of the members of police, army, navy, air force, then Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh), Bangladesh coast guard, Ansar and the civil service, started its operation with over 5,500 members in seven battalions from July 1 in 2004.Now the member of the elite force is 8,500 in 14 battalions.UNB agencyProgrammes of the founding anniversary programme, which Rab calls the Rising Day, will start with the hoisting of the national flag by its Director General Benazir Ahmed at the force’s headquarters in the city early on Sunday, said Rab officials.Later, the annual darbar (meeting) of the elite force will be held there, they said. Besides, family members of the deceased and Rab members will be accorded a reception as in previous years.Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.In his message, Abdul Hamid said the Rab members have played an important role in maintaining the law and order of the country as an elite force. The force has already been able to create credibility amid people by identifying itself as a skilled force, he said. In her message, Sheikh Hasina said Rab has already earned a reputation for its drives arresting criminals, militants, kidnappers, human traffickers and recovering illegal arms and drugs.
