RAB prepared to support national polls if tasked: DG

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman said on Monday that the force is ready to help maintain law and order during the upcoming national election, if assigned by the Election Commission.

“RAB is fully prepared to carry out its duties should the Election Commission entrust us with the responsibility. We hope the law and order situation will remain stable throughout the election period,” he told reporters after visiting Karwanbazar in the capital.

The visit was part of an awareness campaign against the production, transport, and sale of banned polythene.

Expressing concern over the issue, the RAB chief said, “Despite restrictions, the use of banned polythene has risen alarmingly in recent times. Some dishonest traders are secretly producing and selling it, posing serious threats to public health and the environment.”

He said RAB’s intelligence operations are ongoing to bring those involved in the illegal polythene trade to justice.

“Our efforts to curb the use of banned polythene will not be limited to a government initiative—it will become a national movement. Building a sustainable, eco-friendly society requires greater public awareness about the dangers of producing and using banned polythene,” the DG added.

The RAB chief noted that the force continues regular patrols, surveillance, and drives to combat terrorism and other crimes, alongside maintaining law and order nationwide.

During Monday’s campaign at Karwanbazar, RAB personnel distributed leaflets among shopkeepers and traders to raise awareness about the harmful effects of banned polythene.

RAB, in coordination with the Department of Environment, is also carrying out various initiatives across the country, including distributing leaflets, to discourage polythene use and promote eco-friendly alternatives.