
In a move aimed at restoring public trust and addressing long-standing human rights concerns, the interim government has decided to rename the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as the Special Intervention Force (SIF).
Home Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced the decision on Tuesday following a law and order core committee meeting at the Bangladesh Secretariat, stating that the overhaul is being conducted "in line with the people's expectations."
The transition from RAB to SIF is designed to be more than just a branding exercise. The Home Adviser noted that the force's operational culture has significantly evolved over the past 18 months, with the new SIF set to prioritize transparency and human rights.
To mark this fresh start, members of the elite force will be issued new uniforms—reportedly in a "green olive" shade—replacing the iconic black attire that had become synonymous with the unit since its inception in 2004.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has already provided formal approval for the restructuring, and a government gazette notification is expected shortly.
Sources indicate that the SIF will adopt a modernized organizational structure, drawing inspiration from elite gendarmerie models used in European nations like France and Italy.
This reform follows years of international pressure and domestic calls for the force's dissolution due to allegations of extrajudicial activities, positioning the SIF as a specialized unit focused strictly on high-stakes interventions under rigorous legal oversight.




