The government has granted initial approval for the purchase of 163 vehicles for the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) using direct procurement to enhance its operational capabilities prior to the national election. This decision was made during a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Economic Affairs led by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat. Following the meeting, Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan provided details to the press.
The procurement will consist of three jeeps, 100 pickups, and 60 microbuses, with the exact costs to be determined after final approval by the purchase committee. The move comes amidst criticisms of Rab both domestically and internationally for alleged rights violations, with calls for its disbandment from various organizations including the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and Human Rights Watch.
In defense of the decision to bypass tender procedures, Senior Secretary of the home ministry, Nasimul Gani, emphasized the utilization of government resources within state-owned Pragati Industries. The procurement falls under the project “Enhancement of Rab Forces’ Operational Capability (1st Revised)” to address operational needs and bolster Rab’s ability to maintain law and order in preparation for the upcoming national parliamentary election.
The proposal justifies the direct procurement method citing urgency and necessity under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act 2006, with approval from the Finance Division and recommendation for in-principle approval by the economic affairs committee. The project, initiated in 2018 under the previous Awami League government, was approved by Ecnec and is slated to run from December 1, 2018, to December 31, 2026.
