Bangladesh changes name of RAB to Special Intervention Force
The Bangladesh government has decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), moving to rebrand and restructure the elite force amid longstanding concerns over accountability and human rights.
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Monday that the force will now be known as the Special Intervention Force (SIF). Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat, he said a gazette notification formalising the change would be issued shortly.
The adviser stressed that the decision goes beyond a symbolic name change, signalling a broader reform agenda for the controversial unit. 'Considering the force’s past activities and international sanctions, initiatives have been taken to make it more transparent, accountable and people-friendly,' he said.
RAB has faced sustained criticism from rights groups at home and abroad, and several of its former officials were subjected to international sanctions over allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The interim government has indicated that reforming the force is part of its wider effort to restore public trust in law enforcement.
Under the new plan, SIF will be restructured and modernised, with its operational framework modelled on elite security forces in countries such as France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Officials said the emphasis would be on professionalism, lawful conduct and respect for human rights.
Visible changes will include a new uniform, logo and identity cards, while internal command structures and operational guidelines will also be revised. Protecting human rights, strengthening oversight and ensuring transparency will be central objectives of the transformation, according to the Home Ministry.
Sources said the decision followed discussions at a law enforcement–related advisory council committee meeting, where officials were instructed to closely study best practices of elite units in developed European countries to prevent future allegations of abuse.
The reform aligns with recommendations made by the Police Reform Commission, which has called for elite forces to operate strictly within legal frameworks and under effective civilian oversight. The government said SIF would be formed and governed in a way that ensures accountability, professionalism and public confidence in its operations.
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