Fierce debate in Parliament over dissolution of RAB, formation of SRB

The opposition has strongly opposed the dissolution of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the formation of a specialised unit under a new name. Amid the opposition, however, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday night tabled the Special Response Battalion (SRB) Bill, 2026 in Parliament.

The Home Minister sought permission to introduce the SRB Bill during Thursday night’s parliamentary session. Nahid Islam and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman opposed the move. Nahid Islam described the proposed SRB as a reconstitution of RAB under a new name. The bill was later introduced with unanimous consent.

While tabling the bill, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said, “I am placing before this great National Parliament the Special Response Battalion (SRB) Bill, 2026, which has been brought to provide for the dissolution of the Rapid Action Battalion and the establishment of a specialised unit under the police force, to be known as the Special Response Battalion (SRB), as well as provisions concerning its control, operation, maintenance of discipline and related matters.”

Earlier, opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam strongly opposed the introduction of the bill and urged the Speaker not to allow it to be tabled in Parliament.

Nahid Islam said the institution known as the Rapid Action Battalion, or RAB, had become internationally and nationally controversial and discredited during the previous fascist period because of allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and secret detention centres, commonly known as “Aynaghar.” He noted that many members of Parliament present in the chamber had personal experience of being detained in such facilities.

He said, “Politically, whether it is the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP or the 11-party alliance, we all had a commitment to abolish RAB. Even before this election, the current government party and the BNP had said at press briefings that they would abolish RAB. During the fascist period as well, they repeatedly said that RAB would be abolished. But at that time, they never said that after abolishing RAB, they would bring in another institution just like RAB.”

Nahid Islam said military personnel had also been assigned to RAB at different times. “Both the military and the police were politicised and turned into instruments of repression,” he said, adding that the United Nations and human rights organisations had recommended the dissolution of RAB.

He added, “Therefore, it seems to us that abolishing RAB and then establishing the SRB with its personnel amounts to bringing RAB back under a new guise and restructuring RAB. The question had already arisen at that time as to why such a specialised unit of the police was necessary.”
Addressing the Speaker, he said, “This is a stain from our fascist period, a scar, a source of terror, and a symbol of fascism—this RAB, or this institution. Therefore, it should first be abolished. If any specialised unit is needed within the police, that requires detailed discussion in this Parliament. After that discussion, he (the Home Minister) can bring such a bill. Until then, I would request you not to allow this bill to be introduced.”

Responding to Nahid Islam, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the interim government had been formed on August 8, 2024, and the opposition chief whip had served as an adviser to that government. “I would have been happy if he had placed this proposal before the advisory council of the interim government,” he said.

He said the election was held on February 12, 2026, under the interim government. “RAB continued to perform its duties. During those 18 months, did it not occur to them even once to issue an ordinance to abolish it? Then there would have been 134 ordinances instead of 133. We could have considered that ordinance in the first session.”

The Home Minister said the police force was headed by the notorious Benazir. “Are we going to abolish the police force? You may have a headache, but you cannot cut off your head,” he said.

He pointed out that many members of the police force are now in jail, while several others—including Harun, Biplob and Habib—are facing trial before the International Crimes Tribunal, with some having already been sentenced. “But the police force still exists. We are strengthening and modernising it. We are improving its morale, equipping it better, training it and making it responsive to the needs of society. The institution itself is not at fault. The fault lies with the political or mafia forces that operate it. The institution itself cannot be blamed.”

Clarifying that he did not intend to hurt anyone, the Home Minister said, “I said these things because what was a reality yesterday has not ceased to be a reality today. If something was necessary yesterday and you did not do it, does that mean we should not do it? We would have been happy if an ordinance had been brought then to abolish or amend the institution under this name. In that case, his argument would have been acceptable. That is why I am saying this.”

He urged lawmakers to speak based on present realities and recognise the need for a specialised force to improve the country's law-and-order situation in line with public expectations. “That is precisely why we have brought these two laws today,” he said.

Taking part in the discussion, Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman supported the initiative to abolish RAB. However, regarding the formation of a new force along similar lines, he said, “If people hear about a new force after the abolition of RAB, they may feel that only the uniform or apron has been changed while the core concept remains the same.”

Recalling past incidents of enforced disappearances and gross human rights violations, including the seven-murder case in Narayanganj, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief said the entire nation was still traumatised. He urged the government not to rush and instead conduct further examination and analysis before bringing a transparent law based on consensus.

After the opposition leader's speech, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed assured the House that the law would be passed on the basis of consensus. Referring to his own past experience of enforced disappearance and torture, he said that if a government had the right intentions, no force could be misused.

In response to the opposition's request, he proposed extending the bill's scrutiny period from two days to four working days.

After the Deputy Speaker allowed the bill to be introduced, it was sent to the relevant committee, with instructions to submit its report on the Special Response Battalion (SRB) Bill, 2026 within four working days.