The Prime Minister’s Adviser on Information and Broadcasting, Zahed Ur Rahman, has said the home ministry will decide whether the name Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) will continue to exist.

However, he stressed that an elite force is necessary for the state, though there is no scope for its use in human rights violations.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing at the Secretariat today, the adviser said the force is equipped with advanced technology and training. An elite unit will remain in some form, whether under the name Rab or another designation, and it will operate under well-defined laws, he added.

Regarding past demands from the BNP and others to abolish the force, Zahed said Rab may not remain in its current form. He noted that the home minister has already announced plans for a new law governing the force and that its name is likely to be changed.

He further said that while there has been criticism of Rab, the force has demonstrated effectiveness in tackling criminal activities that conventional police could not handle.

He also assured that a democratically elected government would not misuse such a force, as it seeks to retain public support through repeated elections.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon and Chief Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmad were also present at the briefing.