Bangladesh is moving to dissolve the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and replace it with a new specialised force under a different name, according to a draft law prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Under the proposed framework, the new force will take over RAB’s personnel, assets and ongoing operations, while maintaining continuity in its functional mandate, sources familiar with the process said.
Although the final name has not been finalized, two proposals currently under consideration are Special Response Battalion (SRB) and People’s Protection Forces (PPF). Officials said the name may still change before final approval.
Draft plan for transition
According to the draft law, RAB will be abolished once the new legislation is enacted, but its structure will be fully absorbed into the new force.
Key provisions include:
- All movable and immovable assets, including vehicles, weapons, equipment and funds, will be transferred to the new force
- All RAB officers, members and employees will automatically be integrated into the new formation
- Existing salaries, benefits and service conditions will remain unchanged
- Ongoing cases, investigations, duties and contracts will continue under the new force
- Existing administrative rules will remain in force until new regulations are introduced
The preamble of the draft states that the new law aims to strengthen internal security and law and order through the creation of a specialised auxiliary force under Bangladesh Police, while dissolving RAB, which was formed under the Armed Police Battalion Ordinance, 1979.
Officials involved in the process said the reform is aimed at ensuring a clearer legal framework and stronger accountability mechanisms for the specialised unit.
Mandate of the proposed force
Under the proposal, the new formation will continue to function as an elite law enforcement unit with responsibilities including internal security operations, intelligence gathering, anti-narcotics drives and counter-terrorism activities.
Its duties are expected to include:
- Preventing drug trafficking and recovering narcotics
- Seizing illegal firearms and explosives
- Combating terrorism and extremism
- Assisting other law enforcement agencies
- Conducting investigations when directed by courts or the government
- Carrying out special operations
Members of the force will have powers to enter premises, conduct searches, detain suspects and make arrests. However, the draft requires that relevant police stations be notified promptly after arrests or seizures, along with written reports.
Why the move is being made
RAB was formed in 2004 under the BNP government and quickly became a key counterterrorism force, gaining public attention through high-profile operations against organised crime and militant networks.
However, over the years, the force has faced persistent allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and so-called “crossfire” deaths, drawing both domestic and international criticism.
One of the most cited cases is the Narayanganj seven-murder incident of April 27, 2014, in which investigators found that 11 RAB personnel, including then RAB-11 commander Lt Col Tareque Sayeed, were involved in the killings after allegedly accepting bribes.
According to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, published on January 5, 2026, around 25 per cent of documented disappearance cases involved RAB. The commission also identified 40 alleged secret detention facilities nationwide, of which 22–23 were linked to the force.
Data from the Police Special Branch further show that between 2015 and 2021, 1,293 people were killed in 1,007 alleged “crossfire” incidents. Of these, police were involved in 651 incidents and RAB in 293, while the rest involved joint operations by multiple agencies.
Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly called for structural reforms or abolition of the force. The United States imposed sanctions in 2021 on seven current and former RAB officials over alleged human rights violations.
Following the July mass uprising, the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances recommended dissolving the force. The proposal has since been incorporated into the ongoing legal reform process.
Government position
Officials say the objective of the proposed reform is not limited to changing the name of the force, but to establish a more accountable, transparent and rights-sensitive specialised unit.
The draft includes provisions aimed at strengthening internal discipline, oversight mechanisms and legal accountability for members of the force.
It also states that any member accused of misconduct will be subject to prosecution under applicable laws governing their parent service.
The proposed law is currently being finalised at the Ministry of Home Affairs. It will require Cabinet approval before being placed for legislative vetting and parliamentary passage. Once enacted, RAB will cease to exist and the new force will formally replace it.
Stakeholder views
Advocate Manzill Murshid, president of Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, said ensuring accountability is more important than merely changing the name of the force. He noted that RAB includes experienced personnel and operational capacity, and reforms should focus on bringing perpetrators of abuse to justice while strengthening oversight.
Former member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances Noor Khan Liton said the recommendation to dissolve RAB was based on longstanding allegations and concerns. He said meaningful reform of the new structure would be essential to restoring public trust.
