The history of railway police dates back to 1854 when the east Indian railways company designated some security staff of their own as “police’ to maintain the security issues of the passengers, goods and the safer movement of the trains. Later in 1861 the government enacted the Police Act of 1861 to have a disciplined police force and deployed a contingent to maintain the security of the company railways. This govt. police contingent was deployed to the company railways at the cost of the company. The railway company exercised full control over the police force.

On the recommendation of Railway Police Committee, 1872, Railway Police was organized into ‘Govt. Police’ (The precursor of GRP) for Law enforcement and ‘Company Police’ for Watch and Ward Duties in Railways. The actual separation of duties came into effect in 1881. By 1882, as a result of formal division of the Police Force deployed on the railways into “Government Police” and “Private (Companies) Police”, the Railway Companies directly assumed the responsibility of protection and Security of their property as well as of the goods entrusted to them by public for carriage. For this, they appointed “Chowkidars” for various departments and placed them under control of their local departmental heads.

With an increase in commercial traffic and consequential steep rise in the incidence of theft of goods entrusted to railways for carriage, the “Chowkidar” system was reorganized after the first World War onto Watch & Ward organization under a single superior  officer designated as Superintendent, Watch & Ward – a system which continued up to 1954.Thus the Railway Police Administration functioned under three different systems viz the district system, as a part of District Police; the provincial system, for each province and the Railway Administration system, separate Railway Police for each Railway Administration in spite of recommendations of Indian Police commission, 1902-03. The provincial system found acceptance on recommendation of Railway Police Committee, 1921 and the present GRP came into existence. The ‘Company Police’ evolved into present RPF in 1957 passing through "Watch and Ward" phase from 1872-1954, and as "Railway Security Force" from 1954-1956.

Later in 1901 Assam-Bengal Railway formed Assam-Bengal Railway Volunteer Rifles to secure the railway lines. In that situation, Indian Police Commission, 1902-03 recommended provincial railway police system for all over the Indian subcontinent. But it was not implemented instantly for various reasons.

After the WW1 the British Indian Government wanted to make railways more secured. The government formed Railway Police Committee, 1921. The committee approved the recommendation of Indian Police Commission, 1902-03. After the approval former Government Police was transformed into Government Railway Police (GRP) which was a specialized police unit under the authority of provincial government throughout the Indian subcontinent. On the other hand, former Company Police was transformed into Watch & Ward.

The Railway Police of whole East Bengal was under the command of a Superintendent of Police (SP) whose office was in Chattogram.

Pakistan Period:

In 1947, the East Bengal Railway Police was divided into two units - Railway District Chattogram and Railway District Syedpur. Both the SPs were under the command of DIG, CID.

Under the command of a DIG, Railway Range was established in 1967 whose office was in Pahartoly, Chattogram. DIG, Railway Range also served as Chief Superintendent of Railway Watch & Ward drawing salary and allowances from East Pakistan Railway.

Bangladesh Period:

Railway Nirapotta Bahini (RNB) Ordinance was enacted in 1976 and the Railway Watch & Ward was transformed into RNB. The post of Chief Superintendent was renamed as Chief Commandant. RNB went under the authority of DG, BR from DIG, Railway Range in 1983. The headquarters of Railway Range was shifted from Chattogram to Dhaka in the same year.

In 2015 the post of DIG Railway Range was upgraded as Additional Inspector General, Railway Police. Following that, Railway Police Headquarters was established in 2016 under the command of an Additional Inspector General.

In 2018, Railway District Dhaka and Railway District Pakshi were created from Railway District Chattogram and Railway district Syedpur respectively.

In 2020, Railway District Khulna and Railway District Sylhet were formed by dividing Railway District Pakshi and Railway District Chattogram respectively. Currently Railway Police have six districts, 24 police stations and 32 outposts and the total manpower is 2435. These forces are working all over the railway jurisdiction to ensure the safety and security of the passengers, properties and trains.