Gazette published on dissolving RAB, forming SRB

The Bangladesh government has dissolved the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and established a new specialised police unit, the Special Response Battalion (SRB), under the police force.

A gazette notification on the new law was issued on Tuesday (September 15), formally replacing RAB with the SRB.

According to the gazette, the new unit has been created to support the police in maintaining public security, combating terrorism and organised crime, and preserving overall law and order.

The government said a modern, professional, efficient and accountable specialised unit was needed to meet these challenges.

It also stressed the need for transparency, oversight and effective accountability in the exercise of powers by specialised security forces.

The new law was enacted with these objectives in mind, formally bringing the RAB under an institutional transition to the newly established SRB.