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Bangladesh Army
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The Bangladesh Army (Bangla:Bangladesh Shena Bahini, ) is the land forces branch of the Military of Bangladesh. It was formed on 15 April 1971 following the oath of the Bangladesh Government at Meherpur, Kushtia during Bangladesh Liberation War under which the Bangladesh Forces originally consisting of Bengali soldiers and officers who defected from the Pakistan Army pledged their alliegence to Bangladesh. Its current strength is estimated to be over 250,000 personnel with 50,000 retired reserve personnel.
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The Bangladesh Army (Bangla:Bangladesh Shena Bahini, ) is the land forces branch of the Military of Bangladesh. It was formed on 15 April 1971 following the oath of the Bangladesh Government at Meherpur, Kushtia during Bangladesh Liberation War under which the Bangladesh Forces originally consisting of Bengali soldiers and officers who defected from the Pakistan Army pledged their alliegence to Bangladesh. Its current strength is estimated to be over 250,000 personnel with 50,000 retired reserve personnel. There are also a large number of civilian workers. Currently the Bangladesh army is trying to improve its weapons, armour, equipment and manpower by expanding its organisation through the creation of new units, by upgrading and procuring new weapons systems.
The primary mission of the Bangladesh Army is the classic one of defending the nation's territorial integrity against external attack. During wartime, the Bangladesh Army (and its sister services) are responsible for mobilising the nation's resources by assuming direct control over paramilitary and police forces, civilian transportation, and defense industries. In addition to its primary mission the Bangladesh Army is also constitutionally obligated to assist the civilian government during times of crisis. This role is commonly referred to as “aid to civilian administration”.
The Bangladesh Army structure is similar to many 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. It is supported by artillery, medical, engineers, nurses, armored and combat corps. In times of war and crisis, the Bangladesh Army can also be reinforced by the Bangladesh Rifles, Ansar, Village Defense Parties (VDP), and other paramilitary land forces numbering about one million trained personnel.
It has specialized its peacekeeping operations capabilities around the world through participation in peacekeeping and nation building. It has created BIPSOT (Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training) which is dedicated to training of peacekeepers for employment in all types of UNPSO (UN Peace Support Operations). This institute fulfills the requirement of UNDPKO as per 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 keen interest and participating in this area.
History
Early History
During British rule in pre-partitioned India, Bengal was one of the principle posts for British power and trade on the sub-continent. The eastern part of the region, was also a prominent place for British military and police recruitment, with entire horse-mounted cavalry and lancer units being recruited there prior to the Bengal Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.. These units were organised into the Army of Bengal. Actually, 95% of the manpower of army of Bengal came from Bihar, Varanasi and Uttar Pradesh which were part of Bengal Presidency at that time. There were hardly any Bengali soldiers recruited by British East India company after 200 British soldiers defeated 50,000 strong Bengali army of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah in Plassey in 1757.
As a result of this mutiny, there were a number of human rights violations committed by the British upon the Bengali people. Native Bengalis were forbidden from enjoying many basic freedoms and were excluded from entering into military service. This was ostensibly due to the the "martial races theory" that was at the time being used by the British. This theory, however, had been mainly formulated as a result of the 1857 rebellion and it seems likely that the Bengalis were most excluded from it due to the fact that the units that mutinied were largely Bengali units.
As a point of interest, later units that were called Bengal Lancers and Bengal Cavalry were largely recruited from non-Bengali races.
[[Formation during Bangladesh Liberation War 1971]]
The modern Bangladesh Army was formed as a result of the political and social turmoil that resulted in the Bangladesh Liberation War that was fought between what was then known as East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) and West Pakistan in 1971.
The structure and formation of the Bangladeshi forces during the Liberation War of 1971 was determined at the Sector Commander's Conference that was held in the week of 11-17 July, 1971. This conference was of considerable historical significance and tactical consequence, as it determined the command structure of the Bangladeshi forces throughout the conflict, as well as resolving issues surrounding the organisation of the various sectors and reinforcements.
This conference was presided over by the Bangladesh interim government in exile, Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed and General M A G Osmani, during which the retired colonel was promoted and reinstated on active duty into the armed forces of Bangladesh as its senior most official. General Osmani was thereby appointed Commander-in-Chief of all Bangladesh Forces. Lt.Col Rab was appointed as Chief of Army Staff, Squadron Leader Hamidullah was assigned to the largest guerilla training camp of the liberation war at Chakulia, Bihar, as the Chief Military Representative of the Bangladesh government in exile and Group Captain Khandker was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Armed Forces. The preliminary preparation for the creation of the Bangladesh Air Force was also initiated with Khandker to be its first chief.
As a result of this meeting, Bangladesh was divided into eleven sectors. These sectors were placed under the control of Sector Commanders, who would direct the guerrilla war against Pakistani 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 directly placed under the Commander-in-Chief and included the Naval Commandos as a C-in-C’s special force.
Following this a period of prolonged guerilla warfare was launched by Bengali nationalists, which continued for a number of months. Then, on November 21, 1971, the Bangladesh Liberation Force handed over the full command and authority of its operations to the Indian armed forces to command during the war. Following this, a restructuring was undertaken, and the Bangladesh Armed Forces were organized into three brigades.
- Z force, under Major Ziaur Rahman, consisted of 1, 3 and 8 East Bengal Regiment.
- S Force, under Major Safiullah, was created in October 1971 and consisted of 2 and 11 East Bengal.
- K Force, commanded by Khaled Mosharraf was created with 4, 9 and 10 East Bengal.
On December 3, 1971, (West) Pakistan launched a pre-emptive attack on the western border of India, which marked the commencement of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Finally, on December 16, 1971, after the Pakistan Army surrendered and subsequently, the independent nation of Bangladesh emerged.
Post 1971: The Emergence of the Bangladesh Army
Starting with a nucleus of Bengali deserters from the Pakistan Army - paramilitary personnel, police, and civilians who had fought with the Mukti Bahini - the Bangladesh Army has expanded considerably albeit erratically since its formation on December 26, 1971. Between 1973 and 1975, the army absorbed many of the 28,000 personnel who had been detained in Pakistani jails for the duration of the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Coups
The Bangladesh Army has been involved in the bloody removal of existing governments twice. Firstly, in 1975 when a couple of majors (their leader was Major Faruque) overthrew the Mujibur Rehman government and secondly, in 1982 when Gen Manjur killed President Ziaur Rahman but failed to overthrough his government. 1 million people are said to have attended President Ziaur Rahman's namaja janaja (Funeral Service).Three months after President Ziaur Rahman's death Gen. Ershad took power with a bloodless coup.
Subsequent growth
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, army expansion slowed, in part because of his campaign to purge mutinous elements and collaborators from the ranks. When Ershad assumed power in 1982, army strength had stabilized at about 70,000 troops. Starting in 1985, Ershad accelerated the transition from martial law to elected civilian government. The army then 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.
Zia reorganized the army following the military upheavals of the mid-1970s, in part to prevent coups and jawan uprisings. Under Zia's program, the reorganization was intended to neutralize rival factions of freedom fighters and repatriates. Bangladesh was divided into five military regions. The army - cooperating with civilian authorities while maintaining autonomy - preserved internal security and resisted possible Indian domination. Divisions coordinated their operations with paramilitary groups in their respective areas of command, and they mobilized mass support of the government.
Major operations
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bengali people's struggle to gain independence dates back to the start of the 19th Century, when the land of Bengal was divided and united a number of times for numerous politico-social reasons, principally based on religious and class lines. Following the departure of Britishers from the sub-continent in 1947, two newly formed, independent nations were born. These were India and Pakistan. Pakistan was divided into two sections due to geographical factor, East Pakistan and West Pakistan, but there were also major cultural differences between these two divisions, reminiscent of the entire subcontinent prior to partitioning.
One of the main causes of friction in the divided Pakistan was the issue of what would be the major official language. Whilst Urdu was largely spoken by the majority in West Pakistan, in East Pakistan it was Bengali that was more prominent. Animosity and demonstrations broke out on the streets of East Pakistan, against the establishment of Urdu as the national language. A number of university students including several politicals activists involved were shot by government forces. This incident sparked a major division among the two peoples of the West and East Pakistan from which arose mass political uprisings and change in attitude of the common Bengali folk.
Within two decades, by 1970, elections had taken place in entire Pakistan (both divisions, known to be perhaps the only fair and free elections in history of Pakistan till date) in order to decide the future of the country. East Pakistan, winning the majority of the votes were not allowed to convene in the national parliament and transit to form a national government. Reconciliation and unity pledges did not materialise, and before any attempts to break the stalemate were initiated, a massive military build up began. A brutal crackdown upon the local Bengali population was executed by the Pakistani military with many of instances of torture, rape and murder being committed(not confirmed or taken up legally at any forum as yet). The Bengali population rose in defiance after a call to arms from the fiery, authoritative and charismatic leader Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujib on March 26. This was further reiterated by a declaration made by Major Ziaur Rahman on Mujib's behalf through radio in Chittagong on March 27. Finally, the nation's independence was declared on March 26, 1971 and from then on it was to be officially known as Bangladesh.
A fierce guerilla war broke out throughout the nation, with heavy fighting in some areas. This sparked the beginning of a second mass but slow migration of Hindus into India that lasted through into the 1990s. According to the Bangladesh government, about three million ethnic Bengalis, including ordinary citizens, were killed in the war. On November 21, 1971 the Bangladesh government-in-exile based in Calcutta, India, handed over the full command and authority of all Bangladesh Forces and their operations to the Indian armed forces. Following considerable fighting, on December 16, 1971, the Pakistan Army surrendered to the Indian Army, who then remained on Bangladesh soil until March 19, 1972.
Chittagong Hill Tracts
Since its inception, one of the the Bangladesh Army's internal tasks has been the conduct of counter-insurgency operations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region. Since 1976, a militant group known as the Shanti Bahini have demanded exclusive rights over their fellow Bengali citizens, and has been fighting an insurgency in this region. However, the situation has greatly improved in recent times, as major education, housing, irrigation and other macroeconomic programs and initiatives have been undertaken in the region. This progress led to an international peace accord overseen by the UN, which was agreed upon by the Government and representatives of the Shanti Bahini in 1997.
With increase of local government participation in the area, peace and stability has been on the rise, whilst the destruction of property, human rights violations, killings and torture of Bengalis, once a common phenomenon by the Shanti Bahini has greatly reduced. Many Shanti Bahini were captured and tried, whilst others escaped into bordering India. The UNDP, UNHCR including other international NGO's are now engaged in human development projects in the area.
Subsequently the deployment of the Bangladesh Army to the region has been significantly reduced.
Contribution to UN Peacekeeping Operations
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. When announced by the then elected President of Bangladesh, Lieutenant General Hossain Mohammad Ershad, these deployments - particularly the contribution to UNIIMOG - met with considerable criticism in Bangladesh.
Later, as part of the UNIKOM force deployed to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia following the Gulf War the Bangladesh Army sent a mechainised 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. This has included activities in Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Uganda,Rwanda, Mozambique, former Yugoslavia, Liberia, Haiti, Tajikistan, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Georgia, East Timor, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia.
As of December 2008, Bangladesh was ranked second (behind Pakistan) in terms of its contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, with 9,567 personnel (military and police) attached to various UN peacekeeping forces worldwide. Today, the Bangladesh Army is one of the top foreign currency earners for the country due to the funding it receives as a result of its contribution to the UN.
As a result of its contributions to various UN peacekeeping operations, up to sixty-four Bangladesh soldiers have lost their lives (as of February 2006). 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.
Organization
Structure
Today the Bangladesh Army has seven infantry divisions with nineteen infantry brigades deployed around the country. It has one armoured division, one artillery division, one engineer division, one commando brigade, one independent air-defence artillery brigade and eleven aviation squadrons. In addition to this, the Army also has a division for Training and Doctrinal policy formulation and conduct, named the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ATDC) Division and a number of training institutions spread all over the country that supplement its fighting strength. Capability development and training are managed by each Corps, and as such the Bangladesh Army is divided into the following administrative Corps:
Bangladesh Army Formation
- Chief of Army Staff - General Moeen U Ahmed ndc, psc June 15, 2005.
- Master General of Ordnance (MGO) - Major General Anup Kumar Chakma, ndc, psc
- General Officer Commanding, 9 Infantry Division (GOC, 9 inf. Div.) - Major General Ahsab Uddin
- General Officer Commanding, 11 Infantry Division (GOC, 11 inf. Div.) - Major General Ferdous Mia
- General Officer Commanding, 19 Infantry Division (GOC, 19 inf. Div.) - Major General A K M Muzahid Uddin
- General Officer Commanding, 24 Infantry Division (GOC, 24 inf. Div.) - Major General Mohammad Shamim Chowdhury, awc, psc
- General Officer Commanding, 33 Infantry Division (GOC, 33 inf. Div.) - Major General Golam Mohammad
- General Officer Commanding, 55 Infantry Division (GOC, 55 inf. Div.) - Major General Rafiqul Islam - killed in helicopter crash on March 9, 2009.
- General Officer Commanding, 66 Infantry Division (GOC, 66 inf. Div.) - Major General Abul Kalam Humayun Kabir
- General Officer Commanding, Army Training and Doctrine Command (GOC, ATDC) -
List of Chiefs of Army Staff
- General M A G Osmani (Held the title of Commander-in-Chief & not Chief of Army Staff contrary to the popular misconception) Colonel - Reinstated and promoted to the rank of General during Liberation War 1971-1972 Deceased
- Colonel M.A Rab July 1971- April 1972 Deceased
- Major General K M Shafiullah April 1972- August 1975 (Dismissed after coup)
- Lt. General Ziaur Rahman August-November 1975 (Killed in 1981 coup)
- Brigadier General Khaled Mosharraf November 3-7, 1975 (Short lived coup) Assassinated
- Major General Ziaur Rahman (reinstated) November 7, 1975 - December 1978 Assassinated
- Lt. General Hossain Mohammad Ershad December 1978 - October 1986
- Lt. General Atiqur Rahman September 1, 1986 - November 1990
- Lt. General Nuruddin Khan November 1990 - 1994
- Lt. General Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim 1994 -1996 (Dismissed after failed coup)
- Lt. General Mahbubur Rahman 1996 - 1997
- General Mustafizur Rahman (Brought back from Leave Prior to Retirement) 24 Dec 1997 to 23 Dec 2000) Deceased
- Lt. General M Harun-Ar-Rashid (24 December 2000 to 16 June 2002)
- Lt. General Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury (16 June 2002 to 15 June 2005)
- General Moeen U Ahmed (First as Lt. General then promoted to General) (15 June 2005 to Present)
Ranks
Commissioned Officers
The rank structure of the Bangladesh Army is modeled along the armies of the Commonwealth Nations. The ranks of Commissioned Officers, and Non Commissioned Officers are (in descending order):
Junior Commissioned Officers
Non Commissioned Officers
Equipment
Armored Personnel Carriers
- BTR-80 - A Russian made 8×8 armored personnel carrier (APC). Bangladesh has 1130 of these. Out of these 125 APC'S are serving for UN Missions.
- Fahd 280 - An Egyptian APC. Bangladesh has 60 of them.
- RN 94 - A 6×6 APC built by Turkey and Romania. Bangladesh uses an ambulance variant.
- M113 - An American APC leased by Bangladesh exclusively for UN missions from the US Army.
- MT-LB - An APC manufactured by Russia. Banlgadesh has about 80+ vehicles.
- Type 62 - Chinese APC & IFV, Bangladesh has 60.
- BTR-70 - Bangladesh has some of these Russian APC.
- Otokar APC - Bangladesh & BDR has these APC.
- Type 81 - In service for Bangladesh Army
- Cobra & GCL 45 - In service for Bangladesh Army for reconnaissance purposes.
Tanks
- Type 69-II - MBT from China which is highly capable in all terrain. Bangladesh has 28 of these
- Type 59 II - Chinese medium tank. Bangladesh purchased 320 vehicles from China including the Type 59 II MBTs until 1990.
- Type 59-II - Main battle tank in service for Bangladesh Army. 264 in Service.
Bangladesh army is the only army with the largest number of T-59 fleet.The government has a plan to procure a regiment of T-72 tanks. current status of the tanks are not good enough to meet the demand of twenty fist century many of the tanks are obsolete and some of them are been already converted to Armour Personal Carrier.
Infantry weapons
Pistols
Signal Pistols
Shotguns
Assault rifle/Submachine gun
- Type 81 / BD-08- The BD-08 is a family of highly reliable infantry weapons based on the Chinese Type 81 assault rifle assault rifles. Manufactured at the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory's Small Arms Factory under license from NORINCO. The family includes BD-08 assault rifle and BD-08 light machine gun.
- Type 56 assault rifle- The Type 56 7.62 mm assault rifle is a Chinese-produced upgraded version of the world-famous Kalashnikov AK-47. The Type 56 SMG is manufactured in Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory. It serves as the standard submachine gun of most Bangladeshi military and law enforcement agencies.
- Type 56 Semi-Automatic Rifle- The 7.62 mm Type 56 semiautomatic rifle is a Chinese upgrade of the Soviet SKS, which was delivered to China along with the AK-47 automatic rifle in the 1950s. The rifles are manufactured locally by the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory (BOF) since the factory was established in 1969.
- G3 assault rifle- Bangladesh acquired the license and technology to manufacture G3 automatic rifles locally at the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory from Heckler & Koch, Germany. The G3A3, G3A4 and G3/SG-1 variants are in service with the Bangladesh Army.
- AK-103 Assault rifle
- AKM Assault rifle
- AK-47 Assault rifle
- FN FAL Assault rifle
- M59/M66A1 Semi-automatic rifle
- M4 Carbine
- Sterling L2 Submachine gun
- MP5 Submachine gun
- Uzi Submachine gun
Sniper Rifles
Heavy Calibre Sniper Rifles
Light Machine Guns
- HK11A1/21A1General purpose machine gun
- MG3 General purpose machine gun
- Type 56 Light machine gun
- Type 81 Machine Gun
- Bren light machine gun Light machine gun
- RPD Light machine gun
Heavy machine guns
Grenade Launchers
Flame Throwers
Hand Grenades
Crew Served Weapons
Recoilless Rifles
Stinger/Manpads
Field Air Defence Systems
These AD systems are newly ordered.
Anti-Aircraft Machine Guns
- HS-804
- Type 54
- Type 56
- Type 58
- Type 59
- Type 75
Artillery
Towed Field Artillery
Self-Propelled Howitzers
- Type 62
- Type 88
- PLZ-45Newly bought.
Multiple Rocket Launchers
Towed Mortars
- Brandt F1
- M74
- Type 53
- Type 53 (120 mm)
- Type 63-1
- Type 87
- Type 90
- Type 93
Military Vehicles
Prime Movers
Command Post Trucks
- BMTF Arunima Bolyan
- Mercedes Benz 2026
Container Carrier Trucks
Heavy Equipment Transporters
- Mercedes Benz 2026
- Renault TRM 180.11
- Yanan SX2150
- North-Benz 2026
Light-Medium Trucks
- Suzuki
- Isuzu DX
- Isuzu DX
- Dongfeng EQ2061E
- BMTF Arunima Bolyan
Light Utility Vehicles
Field Ambulances
Frklifts
See also
External links
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