Parliament on Thursday passed the Special Response Battalion (SRB) Act, 2026, paving the way for the dissolution of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the formation of a new specialised unit under the police.
The bill was passed by voice vote amid opposition from opposition lawmakers.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed moved the bill during the third session of the 13th National Parliament, with Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram presiding over the sitting.
The bill was placed in Parliament on September 3 and sent to a parliamentary committee for scrutiny. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni presented the committee's report on Wednesday. The opposition raised seven objections to the bill.
In a note of dissent, opposition lawmakers said broad national consultation and stronger accountability mechanisms should be ensured before dissolving RAB and forming a new force.
They raised concerns over the swift passage of the bill, the transfer of RAB personnel, assets and records to the SRB, the mechanism for investigating allegations, arrest and detention powers, training, and protection for members who refuse to carry out unlawful orders.
They warned that without independent oversight and accountability, the SRB could simply be viewed as RAB under a new name. They also called for consultations with political parties, law enforcement agencies, judges, lawyers, victims' families and human rights organisations.
Opposing the bill after it was placed with the committee's recommendations on Thursday, the opposition leader said forming a similarly structured force under a new name would not meet public or international expectations.
“This law should not be passed under any circumstances,” the opposition leader said.
What the bill says
The bill says a modern, professional, efficient and accountable specialised unit is needed to ensure public safety, combat terrorism and organised crime, and assist the police. It also emphasises transparency, oversight and effective accountability in exercising the unit’s powers.
Under Section 4, a specialised unit named the Special Response Battalion (SRB) will operate under the police force. The government will form the unit by appointing police and other law enforcement officers, armed personnel and employees through postings or deputation, as required. Its headquarters will be in Dhaka.
The SRB will be headed by a director general, appointed by the government from among Bangladesh Police officers of at least the rank of additional inspector general. The director general will exercise the unit’s administrative, financial and operational powers.
SRB’s responsibilities
Under Section 10, the SRB will be tasked with maintaining public security and combating terrorism and organised crime. Its duties will also include recovering illegal arms, ammunition and explosives and taking action against drug trafficking, cybercrime, enforced disappearances and land grabbing.
The unit will also take action against offences including violence against women and children, rape, human trafficking and abduction, as well as other crimes against humanity.
It will collect intelligence related to law and order and assist other law enforcement agencies. The SRB may also investigate such offences on the orders of a court, the government or the inspector general of police.
