Dhaka: The elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is going to step into its 12th year journey on Thursday.

With a view to fighting terrorism, the RAB was formed on 26 March in 2004 and it started operation on 21 July in the same year.

The elite security force came to the limelight when it arrested Pichchi Hannan, one of the 23 most-wanted criminals, on 26 June 2004.  

The RAB nabbed several hundreds of Islamic militants including the leaders of the banned outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)- Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Siddiqur Rahman alias Bangla Bhai, Abdul Awal, Ataur Rahman Sunny- and Harkatul Jihad chief Abdul Hannan.  

It is mentionable that Col Gulzaruddin Ahmed, who had great contribution to detecting the militants' hideouts and arresting them, was killed in Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) carnage at Pilkhana on 25 February 2009. Some other members of the force also sacrificed their lives while fighting criminals.

Deputy assistant director Humayun Kabir and Constable Phul Miah of Rab-11 were killed in a shootout with the criminals at a brickfield at Salehpur in Savar on 3 March 2007.