Dhaka: The Jatiya Sangsad today passed two significant bills, including the Special Response Battalion (SRB) Bill, 2026, which aims to abolish the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and establish a new Special Response Battalion, alongside another bill expanding the investigative power of the Armed Police Battalions.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed presented both bills before the House, which passed them by voice vote. Initially tabled on September 3, the bills underwent examination by the parliamentary standing committee on the home ministry, with the committee's report noting dissent from opposition members.
The SRB bill seeks to establish the SRB by removing provisions related to RAB from the Armed Police Battalions Ordinance, 2003, which initially provided the legal foundation for RAB's formation. Formed in 2004, RAB has faced criticism over human rights violations and enforced disappearances. The government is now repealing the ordinance, enacting separate laws for the SRB and the Armed Police Battalion (APBn).
Opposition members called for the bill's referral to a select committee and for public opinion to be sought before its passage. The SRB will be formed by deploying or appointing police personnel, members of law enforcement agencies, and a specified number of officers, armed personnel, or employees as required by the government.
The bill outlines the SRB's rank structure, recruitment procedures, and service conditions, providing the unit with its own flag, emblem, and prescribed uniform. The director general of the SRB will be a serving police officer with a rank no lower than additional inspector general of police.
Under the new law, RAB's resources and responsibilities, including manpower, orders, powers, authority, existing facilities, funds, and properties, will be transferred to the SRB. The SRB will have the authority to investigate criminal offences, conduct searches, make arrests, and seize property, with provisions for detention facilities, stores, and interrogation rooms.
A complaint redress committee will address citizen complaints and internal grievances of unit members, chaired by an additional director general of the unit. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed emphasized that abolishing RAB was a BNP commitment and delaying the bill would allow RAB to continue existing.
Salahuddin explained that the bill was thoroughly discussed by the parliamentary standing committee and made available on the ministry's website for public feedback. The assets and equipment currently held by RAB will be transferred to the SRB to avoid unnecessary fresh procurement.
Following the passage of the SRB Bill, the Jatiya Sangsad also approved the Armed Police Battalions (APBn) Bill, 2026, repealing the Armed Police Battalions Ordinance, 1979. The APBn Bill outlines the establishment of APBn units under the police force, including specialized battalions, with powers to investigate criminal offences and conduct operations subject to legal procedures. The bill restricts APBn members from publishing information without prior approval from competent authorities.