Bangladesh’s interim government has officially decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), an elite law enforcement agency long criticized by international observers.
Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced on Tuesday that the force will now be known as the Special Intervention Force (SIF). The change follows a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“The Chief Advisor has approved the change,” Chowdhury told reporters.
The rebranding comes after years of scrutiny from the United Nations and various human rights organizations, which have frequently accused the agency of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.
The government intends for the SIF to represent a shift in the force’s operational culture and accountability.
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