The government has decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as the Special Intervention Force (SIF), with changes to the force’s uniform also in the pipeline.
Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the decision has already received approval from the Chief Adviser and a formal government order will be issued soon.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the law and order core committee at the Home Ministry on Tuesday, he said the renaming would be accompanied by changes in the attire of SIF members.
RAB was formed on March 26, 2004, in response to the rise of militancy and a deteriorating law and order situation. However, the elite force has long faced criticism from local and international human rights groups over allegations of extrajudicial killings, often described as “crossfire” incidents.
In 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on RAB and several of its current and former officials over serious human rights violations. More recently, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recommended dissolving RAB following alleged abuses during the 2024 student movement.
Despite these calls, the government has opted to restructure the force by changing its name rather than disbanding it.
RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman said he was aware of the government’s decision, adding that the force would act in line with official directives once the order is issued. He also noted that RAB’s operations remain unaffected for now.
