Staff Reporter:
The Jatiya Sangsad has passed the “Special Response Battalion (SRB) Act, 2026”, providing for the dissolution of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the formation of a new specialised unit under the police named the “Special Response Battalion” (SRB).
The bill was passed by voice vote on Thursday amid objections from opposition lawmakers.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed placed the bill before the House during the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram was in the chair.
Earlier, the bill was placed before parliament on 3 September and sent to the parliamentary standing committee for scrutiny. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni placed the committee’s report before the House on Wednesday.
The opposition raised seven objections to the bill.
In their notes of dissent, opposition lawmakers said proper national consultation and a strong accountability mechanism should be ensured before dissolving the RAB and forming a new force.
Their objections included the bill’s speedy passage, the direct transfer of RAB personnel, resources and records to the SRB, the mechanism for investigating allegations, powers of arrest and detention, training, and protection for members who refuse to carry out unlawful orders.
They expressed concern that without proper independent oversight and accountability, the new SRB could be seen as merely RAB under a new name.
They therefore proposed extensive consultations with political parties, law enforcement agencies, judges, lawyers, families of victims and human rights organisations, among other stakeholders.
After the bill, along with the committee’s recommendations, was placed before the House on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Md Shafiqur Rahman opposed it, saying that dissolving RAB and forming a similar force under a new name would not meet the expectations of the people and the international community.
“This law should not be passed under any circumstances,” he added.
