Jahid :
Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) has stated that if necessary, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) could be restructured with a new name and uniform.
“If required, the RAB will be formed anew. A discussion about the force was held, and we presented a proposal—an idea regarding a name and a uniform. Everyone needs to consider this, and the next meeting will determine the course of action,” he said.
The Home Adviser made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a law and order meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat. He added that a final decision would be made after further discussions with all relevant stakeholders.
UN Calls for Disbanding RAB
His comments come in the wake of a fact-finding report released by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Wednesday, which suggested restructuring Bangladesh’s security and policing systems.
The UN report specifically called for the disbanding of RAB, stating:
“Disband the Rapid Action Battalion and return personnel not involved in serious violations to their home units.”
The OHCHR’s recommendations followed its investigation into allegations of violence and human rights violations during the July-August Uprising.
The Bangladesh government has not yet made a formal decision regarding RAB’s future, but discussions on potential reforms are ongoing.
