Cabinet Gives Final Approval to Replace RAB with Special Response Battalion

The government has given policy and final approval to a draft law aimed at abolishing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and establishing a new specialised law-enforcement unit, the Special Response Battalion (SRB), under the Bangladesh Police.

The approval was granted at a Cabinet meeting on Monday (August 17) at the Secretariat. The Prime Minister chaired the meeting.

According to a press release issued by the Cabinet Division after the meeting, the proposed “Special Response Battalion (SRB) Act, 2026” was drafted at the initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Final approval was granted subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.

Under the proposed legislation, RAB will be formally dissolved and its functions will be transferred to the newly established Special Response Battalion under the Bangladesh Police.

One of the notable provisions of the draft law is the creation of a multi-party grievance redress committee to address complaints submitted by members of the general public as well as internal grievances raised by SRB personnel.

The committee is intended to provide a mechanism for resolving complaints concerning the unit's activities and internal matters.

The draft law also provides for the transfer of RAB's existing personnel, orders, powers, authority, benefits, funds, property, accounts, records and other related assets to the new SRB.

It further provides that, until new rules and regulations are introduced, existing rules governing RAB's departmental proceedings will remain in force, subject to necessary adaptations.

The proposed changes are expected to establish a new legal and institutional framework for the country's specialised law-enforcement operations while retaining relevant personnel and resources within the new structure.