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Bangladesh Army

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Bangladesh Army
বাংলাদেশ সেনাবাহিনী
Roundel of Bangladesh – Army Aviation
Crest of the Bangladesh Army
Founded 26 March 1971 (ago) (1971-03-26)
Country Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh
Allegiance Constitution of Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Armed Forces
Type Army
Role Land warfare
Size 260,000 personnel[1][2][3]
13,408 civilians[2][3]
Part of Bangladesh Armed Forces
Army Headquarters Dhaka Cantonment
Nickname(s) BA/BD Army[citation needed]
Motto(s) "In War, In Peace We are Everywhere for our Country" (সমরে আমরা শান্তিতে আমরা সর্বত্র আমরা দেশের তরে)
Colors Black, Green         
March Notuner Gaan (Bengali: নতুনের গান, The Song of Youth)
Anniversaries Armed Forces Day (21 November)
Engagements
Decorations
Website Official website
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Flag of the President of Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid
Chief of the Army Staff Flag of General of Bangladesh ArmyGeneral SM Shafiuddin Ahmed[4]
Chief of the General Staff Flag of the Bangladesh ArmyLieutenant-General Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan[5]
Insignia
Flag of the Bangladesh Army
Flag of the Bangladesh Army
Aircraft flown
Helicopter AS365 Dauphin, Bell 206, Mi-171Sh
Trainer Cessna 152
Transport Cessna 208B, EADS CASA C-295

The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defence strategies including defence of the nation's territorial integrity against external attack. Control and operations are administered by the Department of the Army of the Armed Forces Division. The civilian head is the Prime Minister, who by law also holds the defence ministry portfolio. In addition to its primary mission the Bangladesh Army is also constitutionally obligated to assist the civilian government during times of national emergency. This role is commonly referred to as “aid to civil administration”. The current strength of the army is around 350,000.[6]

History[]

Victory Day Parade

Victory Day Parade, 2012. National Parade ground, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Early history[]

The martial tradition of Bengal has its roots in the during Mughal rule since the early 18th century, when three successive Muslim dynasties, namely the Nasiri, Afshar and Najafi, ruled Bengal.[citation needed] During the Colonial Rule of the British, Bengal was principally a bulwark of British power and trade in the South Asian region. The British under Robert Clive defeated a 50,000 strong Bengal Army of Nawab Siraj-ud-daullah in the Polashey(Plassey) in 1757 and later the forces of Nawab Mir Qasim at the Battle of Buxar in 1764. The Army of Bengal was formed, which later became part of a united Indian Army from 1895 to 1947. The eastern part of the region was a prominent place for military and police recruitment, with entire horse-mounted cavalry and lancer units being recruited there prior to the Bengal Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.[citation needed] Post-mutiny, units with the epithet "Bengal" in their name, such as Bengal Sappers and Bengal Cavalry, were largely recruited from non-Bengali peoples from Bihar, Varanasi and Uttar Pradesh which were technically still part of Bengal Presidency at that time. After the creation of the nation of Pakistan, recruitment from erstwhile East Pakistan began in 1948 into the East Bengal Regiment, newly created with all Bengali personnel, part of the Pakistan Army till 1971. On 25 March 1971 Pakistan Armed Forces started killing Bengali civilians and Bengali soldiers. As a result in March 1971, Bengali soldiers in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) revolted and the Bangladesh Independence War started. There was a Bangladesh Army Sector Commanders Conference during 11–17 July 1971. The conference was held three months after the oath of the newly formed Bangladesh Government at Meherpur, Kushtia. During this conference the structure and formation as well as resolving issues surrounding the organization of the various sectors, strategy and reinforcements of the Bangladeshi forces was determined. It was of considerable historical importance from a tactical point of view, as it determined the command structure of the Bangladeshi forces throughout Bangladesh Liberation War that was fought between Bangladesh (East Pakistan until 25 March 1971) and West Pakistan in 1971.

This conference was presided over by the Bangladesh interim government in exile, headed by then Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed and Colonel (Retd.) M. A. G. Osmani. M. A. G. Osmani was reinstated into active duty and promoted to General as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces. Principal participants of this conference included: Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, Major Ziaur Rahman, Major Abdul Jalil, Captain ATM Haider, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab and Major Khaled Mosharraf. Lt.Col Rab was appointed as Chief of Army Staff. As a result of this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into eleven sectors.[citation needed] These sectors were placed under the control of Sector Commanders, who would direct the guerilla war against Pakistani occupation forces. For better efficiency in military operations each of the sectors were also divided into a number of sub-sectors. As a point of note, the 10th Sector was under direct command of the Commander-in-Chief and included the Naval Commando Unit as a C-in-C’s special force.

Following the conference a period of prolonged guerilla warfare was launched by Bangladesh Forces, which continued for a number of months. A further restructuring was undertaken, and the Bangladesh Forces were organized into three brigade size combat groups.

Post 1971: The emergence of the Bangladesh Army[]

Bangladesh Army has expanded considerably albeit erratically since its formation on 21 November 1971. During the sensitive and formative years after the end of the war, personnel of the Mukti Bahini were absorbed into different branches of Bangladesh Army. Sheikh Mujib's Awami League government created disenchantment among army personnel when his party formed and operated state funded separate militia groups around the nation run locally by his party men at the command of his son Sheikh Kamal. These policies and actions laid the foundation and formed the bedrock of disputes between professional army officers and the ruling administration.

Coups, uprisings and assassinations[]

The year 1975 was a turning point year in the history of Bangladesh as a nation. On 15 August 1975 few disgruntled members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces have been involved in two assassinations and coups albeit without the knowledge or participation of the entire Bangladesh Armed Forces. In 1975 a few sacked, disgruntled junior officers and NCOs secretly planned and assassinated the entire immediate family of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his personal residence in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, with the exception of his two daughters who were abroad. Some of those responsible officers were finally brought to justice in January 2010. Some are still at large. A new government led by Khandkar Mushtaq Ahmed and almost the entire cabinet of Sheikh Mujib's government was set in place. Three months later on 3 November 1975, several senior officers and NCO's led by Maj. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf and Colonel Shafaat Jamil led their own forces to untangle another internal conspiracy and removed Khandakar Mushtaq's government from power whom they believed was an unlawful government in the first place. That same day the same group of disgruntled army personnel who assassinated Sheikh Mujib and his family took action that resulted in the assassination and jailing of several senior Army officers and noted civilians who were involved in the nations war of independence. Those jailed and later assassinated inside the jail premises were Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Muhammad Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman. Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ziaur Rahman was placed under house arrest. On 7 November 1975, a short but highly organized uprising concentrated only in Dhaka, formed by members of the Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (National Socialist Party) and members of lower-ranking army personnel led by Lt. Col. (Retd.) Abu Taher also resulted in the killing of several army and air force officers and men including Major General Khaled Mosharraf, Major ATM Haider to name just a few. Colonel Shafaat Jamil was arrested and forcibly retired. Major General Ziaur Rahman was released and took the opportunity to bring order and discipline in the country as well as in the armed forces under temporary martial law. Zia took promotion to Lieutenant General and was appointed Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator. Later, in 1977 under a public referendum of a yes no vote he took the helm as President. On 30 May 1981 President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in the Chittagong Circuit House in a military coup. Less than a year later, the then Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Hussein Muhammad Ershad in 1982 March 24 took power in a silent coup at dawn, suspended the constitution and imposed martial law and remained in power through farce elections and corruption. He remained in power until 6 December 1990.

Subsequent growth[]

US Navy 071126-N-1831S-104 A member of the Bangladesh Army helps unload bags of purified water from a CH-46 Sea Knight assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3)

Humanitarian operation after Cyclone Sidr 2.

Following the 1975 coup, additional personnel were absorbed into the regular army when the martial law government abolished the Jatiyo Rakkhi Bahini. Under Zia's rule, Bangladesh was divided into five military regions. When Ershad assumed power in 1982, army strength had stabilized at about 70,000 troops. Starting in 1985, the army had experienced another spurt in growth. As of mid-1988, it had about 90,000 troops (although some observers believed the number was closer to 80,000), triple the 1975 figure.[7]

The Bangladesh Army structure is similar to the armies of the Commonwealth Nations. However, major changes have taken place following the adoption of U.S. Army tactical planning procedures, training management techniques and noncommissioned officer educational systems. In times of war and national emergency, the Bangladesh Army can also be reinforced by the Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defence Parties and other paramilitary organizations.

Bangladesh Army has specialized its peacekeeping operation capabilities around the world through participation in numerous peacekeeping and nation building operations. It has created BIPSOT (Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training) which specializes in the training of peacekeepers for employment in all types of UNPSO (UN Peace Support Operations). This institute fulfills the requirement of UNDPKO as per U.N. General Assembly resolution which outlines ‘the necessity and responsibility of every nation to train their armed forces before any deployment. The U.S. Military has taken a keen interest and currently participating in this area.

Major operations[]

Chittagong Hill Tracts Conflict[]

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Conflict was the political conflict and armed struggle between the Government of Bangladesh by the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (United People's Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts) and its armed wing, the Shanti Bahini over the issue of autonomy and the rights of the indigenous peoples and tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Shanti Bahini launched an insurgency against government forces in 1977, and the conflict continued for twenty years until the government and the PCJSS signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997. At the outbreak of the insurgency, the Government of Bangladesh deployed the army to begin counter-insurgency operations. The then-President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman created a Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board under an army general in order to address the socio-economic needs of the region, but the entity proved unpopular and became a source of antagonism and mistrust amongst the native people against the government. The government failed to address the long-standing issue of the displacement of people, numbering an estimated 100,000 caused by the construction of the Kaptai Dam in 1962.[13] Displaced peoples did not receive compensation and more than 40,000 Chakma tribals had fled to India.[13] In the 1980s, the government began settling Bengalis in the region, causing the eviction of many natives and a significant alteration of demographics. Having constituted only 11.6% of the regional population in 1974, the number of Bengalis grew by 1991 to constitute 48.5% of the regional population.

In 1989, the government of then-president Hossain Mohammad Ershad passed the District Council Act created three tiers of local government councils to devolve powers and responsibilities to the representatives of the native peoples, but the councils were rejected and opposed by .

Contribution to UN Peacekeeping Operations[]

Bdunmsn2

BD Army troops patrolling at UN Mission

Bdunmsn3

Patrol with APC

File:Bdunmsn4.jpg

Last respect to the Peace Keepers

Main article: Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force

The Bangladesh Army has been actively involved in a number of United Nations Peace Support Operations (UNPSO) since its formation in the 1970s. Its first deployments came in 1988, when it participated in two operations – UNIIMOG in Iraq and UNTAG in Namibia[8] President HM Ershad initiated these deployments for the first time, starting with the contribution to UNIIMOG in Iraq.

Later, as part of the UNIKOM force deployed to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia following the Gulf War the Bangladesh Army sent a mechanized infantry battalion (approx. 2,193 personnel). Since then, the Bangladesh Army has been involved in up to thirty different UNPKOs in as many as twenty five countries.[9] This has included activities in Angola, Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Uganda, Rwanda, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Mozambique, former Yugoslavia, Liberia, Haiti, Tajikistan, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Georgia, East Timor, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia.

As a result of its contributions to various UN peacekeeping operations, up to 88 Bangladesh soldiers have lost their lives (as of February 2009).[9] However, the performance of Bangladesh's contingents has been described as being of the "highest order" and the appointment of several senior Bangladesh military officers as the Commander of UN peacekeeping missions and Senior Military Liaison Officers, may be seen as further recognition of the Bangladesh Army's growing esteem in the peacekeeping community.[9]

In January 2004, BBC described the Bangladeshi UN Force as "Cream of UN Peacekeepers".[10] Bangladesh Armed Forces participated in the Gulf war in 1991 Operation Desert Storm alongside other multinational forces under Allied Command. The Bangladesh Army brought in a contingent of Engineers and undertook the task of clearing mines and bombs in Kuwait. This assistance took place under the operational code name "Operation Kuwait Punargathan (OKP)" in English "Operation Rebuilding Kuwait (ORK)".

List of Chiefs of Army Staff[]

Main article: Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)

Organization[]

US Navy 071123-M-7696M-062 Bangladeshi soldiers unload a shipment of bottled water delivered by Marines of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 261, the aviation element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)

Bangladeshi soldiers unload a shipment of bottled water for cyclone victims.

Structure[]

Main article: List of formations of the Bangladesh Army

At present the Bangladesh Army has Eight regional Infantry Division HQ with twenty five+ Infantry Brigades, seven Armoured regiment,One Armoured Brigade, twenty three+ Artillery Regiments and various divisional support formations deployed throughout the country. It also has the following independent units under direct command of Army Headquarters: 46th & 65th Infantry Brigade, 14th Engineers Brigade, one Para-Commando Brigade, 6th Air Defence Artillery Brigade, one Signals Brigade and three Army Aviation Squadrons.[11] In addition to this, the Army also has a command for Training and Doctrinal policy formulation and conduct, named the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC) and a number of training institutions spread all over the country that supplement its combat capability. Capability development and training are managed by each Corps, and as such the Bangladesh Army is divided into the following administrative Corps:

Administrative Branches[]

Combat Arms

Combat Support

Combat Service Support

Rank structure[]

Main article: Military ranks of Bangladesh

Commissioned Officer[]

Commission is given in Bangladesh Military Academy and commissioned officers are honoured as 'first class gazetted officer' by the Bangladesh government.[12][13]

Equivalent NATO Code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) and Student Officer
Bangladesh Bangladesh
(Edit) 		No equivalent Bangladesh-army-OF-9 Bangladesh-army-OF-8 Bangladesh-army-OF-7 Bangladesh-army-OF-6 Bangladesh-army-OF-5 Bangladesh-army-OF-4 Bangladesh-army-OF-3 Bangladesh-army-OF-2 Bangladesh-army-OF-1b Bangladesh-army-OF-1a None
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier general Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant Officer cadet

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Ordinary Soldiers[]

NCO rank starts from Lance Corporal. Sergeants holds key appointments in companies, batteries (company equivalent of artillery), infantry battalions and artillery regiments, e.g. Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS), Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), persons holding these appointments have separate rank insignias though these are not actually ranks.[12]

Equivalent NATO Code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Bangladesh Bangladesh
(Edit) 		Bangladesh-army-WO-3 Bangladesh-army-WO-2 Bangladesh-army-WO-1 Bangladesh-army-OR-5 No equivalent Bangladesh-army-OR-4 Bangladesh-army-OR-3 No equivalent Bangladesh-army-OR-1
Master Warrant Officer Senior Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal Sainik
Sergeant appointments
Bangladesh-army-OR-9 Bangladesh-army-OR-8 Bangladesh-army-OR-7 Bangladesh-army-OR-6
Regiment Sergeant Major Quarter Master Sergeant Sergeant Major Master Sergeant


Equipment[]

Main article: Equipment of the Bangladesh Army

List of Cantonments[]

  • Moynamoti Cantonment, Comilla

Educational and training institutes[]

Para-military forces[]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Mallet, Victor. "Bangladesh army funded to forget its role as neutral referee". Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/7baf6f5c-ea74-11e4-a701-00144feab7de. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "সশস্ত্রবাহিনীর মোট সদস্য সংখ্যা দুই লাখ চার হাজার ৫৯৬ জন" (in en). https://www.bd-pratidin.com/news/2017/06/08/238362. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর সদস্য সংখ্যা ২ লাখ ৪ হাজার ৫৯৬ জন". https://dailysangram.com/post/287234-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A7%A8-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%96-%E0%A7%AA-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%AB%E0%A7%AF%E0%A7%AC-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%A8. 
  4. ↑ "New army chief SM Shafiuddin adorned with rank badge of General". https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh/news/new-army-chief-sm-shafiuddin-adorned-rank-badge-general-2117301. 
  5. ↑ "Gen Sarwar Hasan made chief of general staff, replaced by Gen Akbar as NDC commandant". bdnews24.com. Dhaka. 13 January 2021. https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2021/01/13/gen-sarwar-hasan-made-chief-of-general-staff-replaced-by-gen-akbar-as-ndc-commandant. 
  6. ↑ http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/05/201252982553900996.html
  7. ↑ Douglas C. Makeig. "Army". A Country Study: Bangladesh (James Heitzman and Robert Worden, editors). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (September 1988). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.Library of Congress Home
  8. ↑ Momen, Nurul. 2006. "Bangladesh-UN Partnership". The Daily Star. 19 February 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2009 from The Daily Star
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Momen, 2006
  10. ↑ Buerk, Roland (18 January 2006). "The cream of UN peacekeepers". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3763640.stm. 
  11. ↑ Routledge/IISS, IISS Military Balance 2007, p.313
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Ranks and Insignia - Join Bangladesh Army". http://joinbangladesharmy.army.mil.bd/about-army/ranks-insignia/ranks-insignia/14. 
  13. ↑ "Rank Categories - Bangladesh Army". https://www.army.mil.bd/Rank-Categories. 

References[]

External links[]

   
Bangladesh Army   Flag of the Bangladesh Army
Wars and Conflicts
War Leaders
Decorations
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