Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is not being abolished, rather it is being transformed by bringing it under a specific comprehensive law.

Through the new law, the name and uniform of the force are also likely to be changed, he said while replying to questions from journalists at the regular weekly media briefing at the PID conference room this morning.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, MP presented the detailed at the briefing. 

Additional Secretary Md Yasin and Principal Information Officer (PIO) Syed Abdal Ahmed were present on the occasion.

Referring to the demand for abolition of RAB and the current context, the adviser said the Home Minister had made it clear on the founding anniversary of RAB that the force would no longer remain as before. 

So far, the force had been operating under an option of the Armed Police Battalion, but now a comprehensive and time-befitting law is being formulated for it, he added.

Under the new law, everything including accountability and activities of RAB would be much more well-defined, he said, adding as part of this, there is a strong possibility of changes in the name and uniform of the force.

Dr Zahed, however, mentioned the necessity of having an efficient ‘elite force’ in the state, saying such an elite force can successfully deal with situations which the conventional police force cannot do due to its advanced training and modern equipment. 

As a result of the new law, risks like past human rights violations would no longer remain, he added.

The adviser also said the force would no longer be used for political or any other purpose.

He said, “The main objective of the Bangladesh we wanted to build in the future is to establish ‘insaf’ or justice. Even enemies will be treated with justice.”

He said the government would follow the fundamental principles of rule of law and justice in the case of any citizen.

Replying to a question on the Teesta project at the briefing, the adviser said the Teesta master plan is being revised anew by incorporating options for water preservation during the dry season instead of limiting it only to flood and erosion prevention.

Under the directives of the Prime Minister, work is underway to correct or revise and present the project anew by incorporating the option of water preservation, he said, adding that this is being done for the long-term welfare of the people.