From Prestige to Pressure: Is RAB Losing Its Edge?
Published: 09:53 AM, 07 May 2026
From Jangal Salimpur to Narayanganj-Rising attacks raise alarms
A recent armed attack on a plainclothes intelligence team of Rapid Action Battalion 11 in Narayanganj has intensified concerns over the operational strength of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), once regarded as the country's most formidable crime-fighting force.
Formed in 2004, RAB built a strong reputation through decisive actions against militancy and organized crime, including major successes against groups like JMB and high-profile counterterrorism operations targeting top extremists. However, recent incidents suggest a shifting reality. The January 19, 2026 attack in Jangal Salimpur-where a Rapid Action Battalion 7 team was ambushed, leaving officer Md Abdul Motaleb Bhuiyan dead-marked a significant escalation. The latest attack in Narayanganj further indicates that such threats are no longer confined to remote areas but are now reaching urban centers as well.
Security analysts point to growing organized resistance, vulnerabilities in plainclothes operations, possible intelligence gaps, and a declining fear of law enforcement among criminals as key concerns.
As attacks on elite force members increase, a pressing question emerges: can RAB restore its former deterrence and rebuild public confidence in the face of evolving threats?
>>Nasir Khan, AA
