Parliament has passed a bill to abolish the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and establish the Special Response Battalion (SRB), paving the way for the creation of a new specialised police unit.
The SRB Bill 2026 was passed by voice vote during Thursday’s session and will become law after receiving the president’s assent.
Under the bill, SRB will operate as a specialised unit under the police force, with powers to investigate criminal offences, conduct searches, make arrests and seize property.
The unit will comprise police officers, members of law enforcement agencies and designated armed members or employees recruited or deputed for the purpose. It will have its own flag, emblem and uniform, while an officer holding the rank of additional inspector general of police or above will serve as its director general.
SRB will also have its own lockups, storage facilities for seized items and interrogation centres. A complaint resolution committee comprising representatives from different groups will be formed to address public complaints and allegations against its members.
The move replaces the legal framework under which RAB had operated since its formation in 2004. However, critics have questioned whether the change will bring structural reform or merely rename the force.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said law enforcement units need to be updated to meet changing security needs and maintain public order.
“Changes need to be brought to units or forces to meet social demands and maintain public safety and discipline in state management. That is why we are doing this,” he said.
He said RAB was formed under the Armed Police Battalions (Amendment) Act 2003, which was not comprehensive enough. “RAB was formed under the Armed Police Battalions. That law was not comprehensive. The unit was operating under a single section,” he said.
RAB was established in 2004 during the BNP government’s tenure to combat organised crime and terrorism. The force began full operations on 21 June that year.
Over the years, RAB faced repeated allegations of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The Narayanganj seven-murder case and the killing of Cox’s Bazar municipality councillor Ekramul Haque in a reported “crossfire” incident drew widespread criticism.
In December 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on six officials who had served in RAB over allegations of human rights violations.
Calls for reform intensified after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on 5 August 2024. A commission formed to investigate enforced disappearances received 172 complaints against RAB, the highest number against any law enforcement agency.
The government says SRB will have stronger accountability and transparency provisions than RAB.
However, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised concerns that renaming the force without fundamental changes may not address past problems.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “Changing the name of an organisation does not bring institutional reform.”
He said changes were needed in SRB’s structure, manpower, powers, use-of-force provisions and accountability mechanisms to prevent a repeat of past allegations.
“A cosmetic makeover alone cannot mislead citizens or the international community,” he added.
