Bill passed to replace RAB with SRB
Collected Photo
A bill has been passed in Parliament to dissolve the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and form the Special Response Battalion (SRB) on the same model.
The bill was passed by voice vote in Parliament on Thursday amid objections from opposition lawmakers. A proposal by opposition members to send the bill for public opinion and to a scrutiny committee was rejected through a voice vote.
While moving the bill for passage, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the SRB is being formed in response to the needs of society.
Before the bill was passed, Opposition Leader Shafikur Rahman and several Jamaat e Islami lawmakers urged that the legislation not be passed.
Shafikur Rahman said, “The overall experience of this nation after the establishment of RAB has not been pleasant. Although it had some positive aspects, the negative aspects were so many that the whole world became concerned.”
The Jamaat chief said there had been no demand from anyone to restructure RAB. Rather, there had been demands for its dissolution. He said the new force has now been kept exactly the same without any changes.
He urged the Home Minister to withdraw the bill instead of passing it at this time.
After the opposition leader's speech, BNP lawmaker Lutfozzaman Babar stood to speak. He was the State Minister for Home Affairs when RAB was formed in 2004.
Criticizing the negative aspects of RAB, he said a force like RAB is still needed.
Responding to the statements of opposition lawmakers, the Home Minister said it was true that no one had demanded the dissolution of RAB and formation of a new force. However, he said it was a demand of society and a need of society.
Saying that RAB is being dissolved as demanded, he said the SRB is now being formed according to the demand of society.
Citing examples of new laws being enacted to combat crime in response to social needs, he said laws are also being amended to combat cybercrime. The government is also considering forming a cyber security unit under the police department.
