RAB set for abolition, SRB proposed
Bangladesh has taken a major step towards restructuring one of its most controversial law-enforcement bodies, with the government giving final approval to a draft law to abolish the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and establish a new specialised police unit, the Special Response Battalion (SRB).
The move comes amid longstanding concerns over accountability and allegations of serious human rights violations involving RAB, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.
The proposed legislation seeks to create a new accountability framework while transferring RAB’s personnel, powers and assets to the proposed unit.
The Cabinet gave policy and final approval to the draft Special Response Battalion (SRB) Act, 2026 at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.
The draft must now undergo vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division before the proposed law can be finalised, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.
Under the draft, RAB would be formally abolished and SRB established as a specialised unit within the police.
Existing RAB personnel, orders, powers, authority, facilities, funds, property, accounts, records and other assets would be transferred to the new organisation.
Until new regulations are introduced, existing rules governing RAB departmental proceedings would remain in force, with necessary adaptations.
New accountability mechanism
A key feature of the proposed legislation is a new complaint redress mechanism.
A multi-party committee would be established to examine complaints submitted by members of the public as well as grievances raised internally by SRB personnel.
The proposed mechanism is intended to strengthen accountability within the new unit, although questions are likely to remain over its independence, composition and ability to effectively investigate allegations against law-enforcement personnel.
RAB was established in 2004 under the BNP-led government and became a key force in combating militancy, terrorism and organised crime.
Over the years, however, the unit faced serious allegations of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.
The United States imposed sanctions on RAB and several of its officials in December 2021 over allegations of serious human rights violations.
Following the July-August 2024 uprising, calls for a fresh investigation into RAB’s past activities and fundamental reforms to the law-enforcement system gained renewed momentum.
A 2025 investigation by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights identified RAB among forces linked to serious human rights violations and called for structural and accountability reforms across law-enforcement agencies, including the battalion.
The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had also recommended abolishing RAB as part of broader reforms intended to prevent enforced disappearances and address systemic human rights violations.
Human Rights Watch similarly called for the abolition of RAB and long-term security-sector reforms, arguing that accountability for the force’s past actions had been inadequate.
It stressed that any replacement structure should have effective independent oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Reform debated for years
Government discussions on reforming RAB began earlier, with proposals emerging in late 2024 to change its name, structure and legal framework.
In April 2025, the then RAB director general also said a new law was necessary to strengthen accountability.
The latest proposal goes beyond a change of name by formally abolishing RAB and creating SRB under the police.
However, the planned transfer of RAB personnel, powers and assets means the extent to which the new organisation will represent a genuine structural transformation remains an important question.
The effectiveness of the proposed multi-party complaint mechanism, the independence of oversight and safeguards against abuses will therefore be closely watched as the draft moves through the legislative process.
The government says the proposed legislation marks a step towards institutional reform, but its credibility will ultimately depend on whether the new unit can combine effective law enforcement with stronger transparency, accountability and respect for human rights.
