Bangladesh plans to dissolve U.S.-sanctioned Rapid Action Battalion

Bangladesh’s government has drafted legislation to dissolve the Rapid Action Battalion and replace it with a specialized police unit called the Special Response Battalion.

The Ministry of Home Affairs published the draft Special Response Battalion Act, 2026, on Aug. 4 for public comment. The new unit would operate under Bangladesh Police and investigate terrorism, organized crime, narcotics offenses, illegal weapons and other serious crimes.

The United States sanctioned the Rapid Action Battalion in December 2021 under the Global Magnitsky human rights program for serious human rights abuses.

The U.S. Treasury cited allegations linking Bangladeshi law enforcement, including the battalion, to hundreds of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings and to torture.

Human Rights Watch has also documented allegations of killings, disappearances and torture involving the force.

The proposed replacement would include a Complaint Redress Committee to investigate misconduct allegations.