The government has decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as the Special Intervention Force (SIF), signalling a major overhaul of the elite law enforcement unit amid long-standing concerns over human rights and accountability.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury following a meeting of the law-and-order core committee at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said the decision reflects the interim government’s commitment to reforming the force rather than merely changing its name.
A gazette notification formalising the renaming and restructuring of the force will be issued shortly, he added.
The Home Affairs Adviser said the transformation would include significant changes to the force’s structure, mandate and public image. He stressed that protecting human rights, ensuring transparency and modernising operational practices would be central to the reform process.
As part of the visible changes, the newly named Special Intervention Force will be given a new uniform, logo and identity cards, while its operational framework will be redesigned. Mr Chowdhury said the force would be modelled on elite law enforcement agencies in countries such as France, Italy and the United Kingdom, with an emphasis on lawful and accountable policing.
The reform initiative follows discussions within law enforcement–related advisory bodies, where officials were instructed to closely review European operational models to ensure future operations remain free from allegations of rights violations. The changes are also aligned with recommendations made by the Police Reform Commission, which called for stronger oversight and institutional accountability.
Rapid Action Battalion was established in 2003 under the Armed Police Battalion (Amendment) Act, which amended the Armed Forces Battalion Ordinance of 1979, and became operational in 2004. It was created to combat terrorism, organised crime and serious criminal activity.
Operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, RAB is a composite force made up of personnel from the Police, Army, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Ansar. Over the years, it has played a prominent role in counter-terrorism operations, anti-narcotics campaigns and investigations into high-profile crimes.
However, since its inception, RAB has faced sustained criticism from local and international human rights organisations over allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. In 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on the force and several of its senior officials, citing serious human rights concerns.
More recently, a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights recommended the disbandment of RAB, while Human Rights Watch, a New York-based rights group, has repeatedly called for the force to be dissolved.
Addressing these issues, Home Adviser said the government had taken into account both the force’s past record and international criticism while designing the reform package. He said the aim was to build a force that is transparent, people-friendly and fully accountable under the law.
Following the meeting, the Home Affairs Adviser also spoke about the political climate ahead of the upcoming national election. He said morale among law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, is higher than ever and expressed confidence that the election would be held in a peaceful and acceptable manner once the schedule is announced.
He added that the overall environment would remain calm and festive, reflecting the government’s commitment to maintaining stability during the electoral process.
