Dhaka, Aug 17 (V7N) – The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is finally set to be replaced by the Special Response Battalion (SRB) as the Cabinet today approved the draft of the Special Response Battalion Act, 2026, marking a major overhaul of the country's specialised law-enforcement structure.
The approval came at the weekly Cabinet meeting held at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in the chair. The draft will now be vetted by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.
The proposed law provides for the dissolution of RAB and the establishment of SRB under Bangladesh Police, while retaining the existing force's manpower, resources and operational responsibilities under the new institutional framework. Under the draft, RAB's manpower, authority, facilities, funds, property, accounts, records, rights, liabilities and other assets will be transferred to SRB.
Existing RAB officers and personnel will become members of the new force, with their existing service conditions remaining unchanged unless subsequently modified under the law.
The proposed SRB will be tasked with combating terrorism, organised crime, human trafficking, cybercrime, drug trafficking, illegal arms and explosives, kidnapping, murder, crimes against women and children and other serious offences.
The draft also proposes a Multi-party Grievance Redress Committee to address complaints from citizens and grievances of SRB personnel, with provisions for investigating allegations and recommending appropriate action. Until new rules are framed, existing RAB rules governing court procedures and departmental proceedings will continue to apply with necessary adaptations.
The Cabinet's approval marks the final major policy step before the proposed legislation proceeds through the legal vetting and enactment process, paving the way for RAB to formally transition into SRB.
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