The government has moved to dissolve the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and establish a new specialised law-enforcement unit namely Special Response Battalion (SRB), under Bangladesh Police.
The government has floated the draft of the proposed Special Response Battalion (SRB) Act, 2026 on the Home Ministry Website on 4 August for public consultation.
All concerned were requested to submit their comments and feedback via email to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
The proposed law seeks to replace the legal framework under which RAB operates while retaining its operational assets, personnel and institutional responsibilities under the new unit.
Under the draft, SRB will be formed with officers and personnel drawn from Bangladesh Police and other disciplined forces through posting, deputation or temporary attachment. Deputation or attachment will generally be for a minimum two years.
The unit will be headquartered in Dhaka, with scope for establishing subordinate offices elsewhere with government approval. It will be organised into battalions, companies, platoons and sections.
SRB will be headed by a Director General, appointed by the government from among serving Bangladesh Police officers of at least the rank of Additional Inspector General.
The Director General will exercise administrative, financial and operational powers, subject to the general control of the Inspector General of Police.
The proposed SRB will be tasked with protecting internal security and combating a wide range of serious crimes, including terrorism, organised crime, human trafficking, cybercrime, drug trafficking and illegal arms and explosives.
Its responsibilities will also include gathering intelligence, tackling crimes against women and children, kidnapping, murder, enforced disappearance and land grabbing, as well as assisting other law-enforcement agencies.
The unit may also file cases and conduct criminal investigations when directed by a court, the government or the Inspector General of Police.
Subject to the Code of Criminal Procedure and other applicable laws, SRB personnel will have powers to enter, search, seize and arrest in specified cases involving drugs, illegal arms, explosives, terrorism, human trafficking, organised crime and other cognisable offences.
The draft, however, requires arrested persons and seized evidence to be handed over without delay to the nearest police station, with a report submitted to the appropriate authority.
For criminal investigations, officers of at least the rank of Sub-Inspector may be assigned as investigating officers. The draft also provides for detention facilities, a malkhana and interrogation rooms at SRB headquarters.
The draft sets out a detailed disciplinary framework for SRB personnel. Misconduct such as disobeying lawful orders, abandoning duty posts, using force against colleagues, reporting for duty while intoxicated, misuse or destruction of government property, dereliction of duty and illegal collection of money could trigger disciplinary action.
A member accused of misconduct may be detained under specified safeguards, including written notification of the reasons, prompt initiation of an inquiry and release if there is no preliminary evidence.
A separate Complaint Redress Committee has been proposed to deal with complaints from citizens and grievances of SRB personnel. The committee would include representatives from the Home Ministry and Police Headquarters, senior SRB officials and a government-nominated person with at least 10 years of experience in human rights, law or judicial administration.
The committee would be empowered to investigate complaints, recommend action where allegations are substantiated and examine allegations of undue influence, harassment, unfair treatment, promotion and posting-related grievances. It would also submit quarterly reports to the government.
Under the transition provisions, RAB’s assets, funds, bank accounts, property, records, rights, liabilities and contractual obligations would be transferred to SRB.
All existing RAB officers and armed personnel or employees would become members of SRB. Their existing service conditions would remain unchanged unless subsequently modified under the new law.
Existing RAB cases, legal proceedings, departmental proceedings and disciplinary actions would continue, subject to consistency with the new law.
Until new regulations are framed, the existing Rapid Action Battalion (Court Procedure and Departmental Proceedings) Rules, 2005 would continue to apply with necessary adaptations.
The proposed law also requires mandatory training for SRB personnel and provides for a dedicated research unit at its headquarters to analyse operational and investigative data.
The government would have the power to frame rules and regulations to implement the law.
If enacted, the proposed legislation would mark a major institutional transition from RAB to SRB, while preserving much of the existing force’s manpower, resources and legal responsibilities under a new framework controlled by Bangladesh Police.
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