Opinion || RAB Reform: Justice or Political Revenge?

Mohammad Ghulam Mortuza   | Writer and Analyst

---

RAB is a controversial yet essential chapter in the history of law and order in Bangladesh. Since its establishment in 2004, the force has achieved significant success in suppressing militancy and controlling drugs. However, when the talk of reform is raised today, the question arises – is this reform on the path to true accountability or under the guise of political vendetta?

On May 18, 2026, the 22nd founding anniversary of RAB, the Home Minister announced the enactment of a new law. This is undoubtedly a timely step. But there remains deep concern about the judicial process that is going on behind the scenes of the legislation.

“Undesirable events can happen in any organization. But it is never fair to place the blame squarely on the entire force in the name of institutional reform.”

The Danger of Partial Judgment

The ongoing case at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is only bringing the period 2016 to 2024 under trial. However, according to information from ‘Adhikar’ and ‘Aasak’, incidents of crossfire and extrajudicial killings have occurred since 2004. Choosing a specific period—and individually putting military officers in special positions serving during that period on trial—smells of political electioneering rather than legal process.

The natural question arises: If the allegations of disappearances and murders are true, why are DB, CTTC or other force officials excluded from this trial? Even though there are similar allegations in the media about the DB’s ‘mirror house’, their top officials are at a safe distance. Does this discrimination hold the promise of justice?

Incompatibility of chain of command and single responsibility

In the reality of criminal procedure and the military chain of command, it is almost impossible for any serious incident at the state level to occur on the basis of a single decision by one person. There is a multi-level approval process from the field level to the highest level. So why are only a few army officers being made the ‘main accused’ and the rest being given immunity? Is this real justice, or a strategy to make someone a scapegoat?

This silence also raises another question: Many of the witnesses testifying against the accused have pending cases of terrorism. If taking action against terrorists has become a crime, where is the moral basis for protecting the security of the state?

What is more worrying is that many of the accused officers were not even in RAB in 2016, when the trial began over Barrister Arman’s disappearance. Whether passports and official posting orders are verifiable information—this question has not yet been answered directly.

The question of sovereignty and the military

Perhaps the most important question is this: Is there an attempt to break the army’s chain of command as part of some domestic and international agenda? If such allegations are made against army officers who joined RAB after 25-30 years of impeccable service, will any professional officers in the future come forward to take bold steps to combat militancy or drugs?

“Reform is needed — real, transparent and impartial reform. But that reform must be on the path of overall accountability, not as a tool to target anyone in particular.”

The path to true reform

The new law on RAB will only be meaningful when it is permanent and comprehensive—bringing all types of human rights violations under the law, not just a specific period or specific force. Transparency must be ensured in the judicial process—it is essential to verify the facts of the allegations, assess the credibility of witnesses, and hold all levels of the chain of command equally accountable.

Institutions built with the people’s tax money cannot be instruments of partisan vendetta. Loving one’s country doesn’t just mean seeking change—it means ensuring that that change is just, impartial, and strengthens the country’s security and sovereignty in the long run.

That is the only hope that the light of reform should not become a tool of darkness in the name of justice .