Bangladesh Parliament passes bill to replace RAB with Special Response Battalion

The Bangladesh National Parliament has passed a bill to dissolve the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and establish a new elite force known as the Special Response Battalion (SRB). The bill was passed via voice vote during the third session of the thirteenth National Parliament.

According to Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmad, the restructuring is intended to meet evolving societal needs for public safety and order. He noted that the previous legal framework under the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) was insufficient for RAB's operations. The new SRB will function as a specialized unit under the police force, composed of police officers, law enforcement members, and designated armed personnel.

The SRB will be granted powers for criminal investigation, searching, arrest, and seizure. The unit will maintain its own headquarters, detention facilities, and interrogation centers, and will be led by a Director General holding the rank of Additional Inspector General of Police or higher. An internal grievance redressal committee will also be formed to handle complaints regarding its members.