Bangladesh Armed Forces
|
Flag of the BAF. |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Service branches |  Sena Bahini (Army)
 Nou Bahini (Navy)
 Biman Bahini (Air Force)
Border Guards Bangladesh
Bangladesh Coast Guard
Bangladesh Ansars |
| Manpower |
| Military age | 16 years of age |
| Conscription | None |
Available for
military service | 36,520,491, age 19–49 (2010 est.) |
Fit for
military service | 30,486,086 males, age 19–49 (2010 est.),
35,616,093 females, age 19–49 (2010 est.) |
Reaching military
age annually | 1,606,963 males (2010 est.),
1,689,442 females (2010 est.) |
| Active personnel | 157,053 |
| Deployed personnel | In UN missions - 10,855 (September 2010) |
| Expenditures |
| Budget | $1.33 billion (2010) |
| Percent of GDP | 1.18% (2010) |
| Industry |
| Domestic suppliers | Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory
Bangladesh Ordnance Factories |
| Foreign suppliers |  China
 Russia
 United States
 United Kingdom |
| Annual imports | China |
| Related articles |
| History | Bangladesh Liberation War |
The Bangladesh Armed Forces (BAF) are the unified military forces of the Bangladesh that consist of three the branches, the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh Air Force. Border Guards Bangladesh, Bangladesh Coast Guard, are under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs during peacetime, but during wartime they fall under the command of Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy.
The President of Bangladesh is the Commander-in-chief of the military, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is the principal administrative organization by which military policy is formulated and executed. The MoD is headed by the Minister of Defense, who is a civilian and a member of the Cabinet, usually held by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, who also serves as the President's second-in-command of the military. To coordinate military policy with diplomacy both the President and the Prime Minister are advised by a six-member board, three Chiefs of Staff, which includes the head of each of the regular services, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, and Military Secretaries to the President and the Prime Minister. The Director Generals of the NSI, the DGFI and the BGB also serve in an advisory capacity.
The Armed Forces Day is observed on November 21. Official functions are held at "", Dhaka, "Armed Forces Division Head Quarter", Dhaka Cantonment, and at every military installation throughout the country.
History of Bangladesh Forces
The modern history of the military of Bangladesh began its inception on the night of 25 March 1971 in Chittagong, when Major Ziaur Rahman, 2nd in Command of the 8 East Bengal Regiment revolted against the Pakistan Army and officially declared Independence of Bangladesh on March 26, 1971 from Kalurghat Radio Station, Chittagong. On 4 April 1971 under the command and leadership of the C-in-C Col(retd) M.A.G. Osmani, it began organization and creation with the title of Bangladesh Forces. During the first Sector Commanders Conference(held during July 11–17 of 1971) Bangladesh Forces were organized and formed for the ongoing independence war from Pakistan. It was significant in the sense that during this historic conference the Bangladesh Forces field command structure, sector reorganization, reinforcement, appointment of field commanders and tactics of warfare were decided upon and carried out. This conference was presided over jointly by the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed and Banga Bir Colonel M.A.G. Osmani Commander in Chief of all Bangladesh Forces. During this conference Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani was reinstated from retirement to active duty into the Armed Forces of Bangladesh as its senior most official, promoted from the rank of Colonel to General. Principal participants of this conference were Principal Military Representative of Bangladesh Government-in-Exile at Chakulia Guerilla Training Camp (Bihar) Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, BDF Commander Sector 1 Major Ziaur Rahman, BDF Commander Sector 2 Major Khaled Mosharraf, BDF Commander Sector 3 Major K M Shafiullah, BDF Commander Sector 4 Major , Major , Captain Rafiqul Islam, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab, Wing Commander Khademul Bashar, Major , Major . Lt. Col. Abdur Rab was appointed as Chief of Staff, Bangladesh Army. However, throughout the entire duration of the war Lt. Col. Rab remained in Tripura. Among the few non combatant staff present were Group Captain A. K. Khandker, who was later, during early August given appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff (Army - Liaison). Bangladesh was divided into Eleven Sectors under Sector Commanders. For better management of military operations each sector was divided into a combination of sub-sectors, commanded by a Sub-Sector Commander. The 10th Sector was kept under the direct command of the Commander in Chief and included the Naval Commandos as C-in-C’s special operations force. These commandos were later absorbed in to the Bangladesh Navy.
Major Chowdhury, was Colonel Osmani's Military Secretary, responsible for all movements and communication. Two additional officers were also appointed officially in charge of all administration and personnel, and another officer in charge of operations and training.
The Bangladesh Forces received tightly measured assistance from the meager resources of the Indian authorities soon after hostilities broke out. The Soviet Union and the U.S. was also keen to play Cold War politics in the region. The U.S. policy guided by then U.S. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger was courting Pakistan to open ties with China, hence could not support the Bangladesh struggle for independence. However, Nixon's policy did supply India with emergency relief assistance. The USSR later decided to assist India, eventually supported and immensely strengthened Indian efforts against Pakistan. Bangladesh's independence struggle gained from this assistance after India initially decided to support the official Bangladesh government and BD Forces, but also tacitly supplied Mukti Bahini with arms and support underground under the direction and guidance of RAW. The support to BD Forces culminated under the security umbrella provided by the Indo-Soviet Friendship Treaty of August 1971.
On November 21, 1971, when the natural climate was dry and more adaptable and by which time the Bangladesh Forces had severely weakened the strength of the West Pakistani Forces through its guerilla operations, under a complicated politico-military scenario, a demand of the Indian government was conceded to by the Bangladesh Government-in-exile in Calcutta, which was handing over the full command and authority of its operations to the Indian armed forces. The Pakistani force had already suffered massive casualty from constant attacks by the BD Forces and was on the verge of collapse, they readily agreed to a cease fire without resistance in about one and a half weeks, on December 16, 1971. However, the cease fire was switched into a surrender document. The Bangladesh Forces C-in-C General M.A.G. Osmani and almost every member of the Bangladesh Forces, Sector Commanders who organised and led the war including Brigade K, and Z Force Commanders were barred from attending. No ambassadors, or other diplomats, the press, civilian representatives were invited to attend. It was executed with urgent haste. Group Captain A. K. Khandker, the lone BD Forces non combatant staff member, managed to tag along with the Indian entourage and witnessed the show and returned to Kalyani, Calcutta, back on the same day with them. K M Shafiullah, K -Force commander, and a handful of others were also among the hundreds of local masses who surrounded the event from a distance. "No protocol was set on what they were supposed to do". A fact Shafiullah admitted himself. "We rushed to the Race Course from the airport. I was quite near the signing table. But we were not sure what we were supposed to do. That's why I do not appear in any of the photographs. There was rejoicing all around by many Bangladesh citizens. Niazi was put on a jeep and sent away. Aurora and J.F.R. Jacob left the premise and immediately flew back after the signing. That night I did not come across anyone." -Major General Shafiullah spoke to Kaushik Sankar Das.
Victory was declared by the Indian authorities. All 93,000 prisoners of war and massive amount of captured war materials were taken to India. General Osmani and a few sector commanders arrived in Dhaka a day later, and set up the former Pakistan Army 14 Div HQ's, w.e.f Dec 17th 1971, as BD Forces Command Head Quarters, at Dhaka Cantonment. All closures and accounts were conducted from Osmani's C-in-C HQ at Dhaka Cantonment. Group Captain Muhammad Ghulam Tawab was appointed Osmani's first Deputy Commander in Chief after being able to return from Bangkok, Thailand on December 18, 1971. General Osmani and his deputy Group Captain Tawab remanied in command of BD Forces until April 7, 1972. However, due to internal politics conspired and spearheaded by Group Captain A.K. Khandker and members of the Awami League who resurfaced from Calcutta, India, almost two months after the war ended, managed to remove Tawab entirely from service in Bangladesh government. Bangladesh Forces were ordered on January 29, 1972 for demobilization of all sectors by end of February under the direction of the new Mujib government. General M.A.G Osmani held the final Sector Commanders Conference at the old Police HQ at 27 Mintu Road, Dhaka. The famous Bangladesh Forces group photograph was taken on that day. All sectors were abruptly shut down. No official accounts of war wounded, gallantry investigations, or weapons collection were done. Independent Bangladesh remained under Indian army occupation and total control for another three months after the war, with an ICS and a Bharti army official in every official building of the Bangladesh government. Quickly realising this as a critical stage, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made a unilateral public demand to Indira Gandhi regarding the absolute, unconditional, and unequivocal withdrawal of all Bharti officials and forces from Bangladesh. India received two full districts from Bangladesh as compensation and withdrew within 2 days 17 to 19 March 1972.
The Bangladesh Forces was organized for War of Independence in 1971 into three brigade size units in 11(eleven) sectors.
BDF HQQ's 8 Theatre Road, Calcutta, India.
Prime Minister: Mr. Tajuddin Ahmad
BD Forces C-in-C: General Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani
BD Forces Principal Military Representative: Chakulia Guerilla Training Camp (Bihar) - Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan(Until June)
BD Forces Non-Combatant Staff :
BD Forces C-in-C's Military Secretary Major Chowdhury
BD Forces C-in-C's PSO I - Administration and Personnel
BD Forces C-in-C's PSO II - Operations and Training
BD Forces Chief of Staff Army Lt. Col. M. A. Rab (HQ Tripura)
BD Forces Deputy Chief of Army Group Captain A.K. Khandker (HQ Kalyani)
Bangladesh Forces Sectors and Subsectors
BD Forces 1971 Brigades and Regiment Commanders
Z Force Brigade Unit Formation July 17, 1971 Commanded by Major Ziaur Rahman (Commander - Sector 11 )
1st East Bengal Regiment's Senior Officer Major Ziauddin was appointed Commanding Officer on July 1 after the operational attack on Pakistan Army BOP at Kamalpur took place. Flight Lieutenant Liaqat Ali Khan was appointed and Quartermaster.
Besides, as Acting Company Commander, and Platoon Commander Second Lieutenant Anisur Rahman and Wakar Hassan actively participated in different missions.
Second Lieutenant Fazle Hossain as acting Company Commander, Flight Lieutenant Ashraful Alam as Company Officer and Second Lieutenant Manzur Ahmad as Platoon Commander, actively participated in different missions.
Second Lieutenant Emdadul Haq as Acting Company Commander, Second Lieutenant Munibur Rahman as Company Officer, and Second Lieutenant Abu Zafar as Platoon Commander participated actively in different operations.
Unit Formation -?? Commanding Officer: Major Khandkar Abdur Rashid
During mid September six 105MM Howitzer Guns were delivered at Assam's Masimpur District from Bharat's Echo sector. Primarily with these six large artillery guns the 2nd FA Battery was formed at Koishal, Bharat, opposite Sylhet border area. From 10 October 2n FA Battery assisted Z Force in the Sylhet sector in fire cover and ground support during multiple missions against Pakistan army strongholds.
Unit Formation 5 September 1971 Commanding Officer: Captain Abdul Halim
Since October this first Signal Co. of BD Forces was assigned with Z Force's 8th East Bengal Regiment and participated in every single mission. Notably in the Sylhet zone 4th and 5th Sector's Borolekha, Fultola, Adamtila, Biyani Bazar operations.
K Force Brigade Unit Formation August 30, 1971 Commanded by Major Khaled Mosharraf (Commander - Sector 2)
S Force Unit Formation September 24, 1971 Commanded by Major K M Shafiullah
Role of the Military
The Bangladesh Forces fully structured by September 1971, organised itself officially as the Bangladesh Armed Forces comprising Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force. The current strength of Bangladesh Army is estimated to be more than 150,000+ personnel, while Bangladesh Air Force consists of more than 17,000 personnel and Bangladesh Navy with 24,000 personnel [1], The forces perform traditional military missions. The Bangladesh Coast Guard under the Home Ministry, plays a stronger role in the area of anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and protection of offshore resources. Recognition of economic and fiscal constraints has led to the establishment of several paramilitary and auxiliary forces, including the 67,000 member Border Guard Bangladesh, the 4,900,000 member and a 5,000 member specialized police unit known as the Armed Police. The Border Guards Bangladesh, under the Home Ministry, are commanded by army officers who are seconded to the organization.
In addition to traditional defense roles, the military has been called upon to provide support to civil authorities for disaster relief and internal security. The military of Bangladesh fought tribal insurgents in Chittagong Hill Tracts since mid 1970s. In November 2008, Bangladesh Navy effectively staved off economic aggression by Myanmar in the seas of Bangladesh. Occasionally the military forces have been called to participate in social activities like rehabilitation of people following a flood or cyclone. Since late 1980s, it has earned international reputation by working as part of Missions in different countries of the world. The Bangladesh military is recognized as a disciplined and well-trained national institution that can tackle critical national phases. A 2,300-member Bangladesh Army contingent served with coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf war. Bangladesh is currently the highest contributor (with 10,855 troops, as of September 2010) to United Nations peacekeeping operations, with an infantry battalion in UNIKOM (Kuwait), an engineer battalion in UNTAET, (East Timor) and another infantry battalion service in Sierra Leone in May 2000.
Medals and Awards
Bangladesh Armed Forces Current Deployments
Bangladesh has consistently made large contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations. As of May 2007, Bangladesh had major deployments in Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Lebanon, Sudan, Timor-Leste and Cote d'Ivoire. With 9677 troops deployed, it ranks second in personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping. The government declined to participate in Iraq on a request from USA. The deployment to Liberia began in October 2003 and has remained at a level of about 3200 who are participating in peacekeeping, charitable activities and infrastructure development.
Armed Forces training
Officers are trained at the Bangladesh Military Academy, Bangladesh Naval Academy located in Chittagong and Bangladesh Air Force Academy in Jessore. In further parts of their careers, officers are often sent to Defense Services Command and Staff College within or outside Bangladesh, National Defence University and within or outside Bangladesh. Officers of medical corps are recruited after graduation from civil medical colleges. They undergo basic military training at Military Academy followed by professional training in medical corps centre and Armed forces medical institute. Recently cadets of Armed Forces Medical College also started joining directly.[2].
Armed Forces ranks
Bangladesh military ranks, essentially corresponds to those used by the armed forces of the commonwealth nations.
There are three different systems of rank for commissioned officers of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force. The Para-military force Border Guards Bangladesh follows the same rank structure as the Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh Coast Guard follows the naval rank structure.
The first officer to hold the rank of General in the Bangladesh Armed Forces was Colonel Osmani, Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh Forces in 1971. He was reinstated into active duty and officially appointed as C-in-C Bangladesh Forces. Min. of Defense Notification of his release - No. 01/17/72(NGO) 108 DEF/SECY-7 April 1972/// With intention to effectively participate in the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly as an MCA, General M.A.G. Osmani, Psc, resigned his appointment as C-in-C Bangladesh Forces and his resignation having been accepted by the President, he vacated his temporary appointment of C-in-C Bangladesh Armed Forces w.e.f. 7 April 1972(forenoon) and his offices at (OLD) 14 Division Head Quarters at Dhaka Cantonment. Accordingly, he is reverted to the MOD Pension List from the same date henceforth. NO.01-31-33/72-110(3) DEF/SECY-7 April 1972 (forenoon)//With the vacation of the temporary Appointed C-in-C of Bangladesh Forces, the combined command of Bangladesh Armed Forces has been abolished and all its operations ceased w.e.f. 7 April (forenoon) and replaced by the three separate forces of the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force under the Ministry of Defense, while Bangladesh Rifles will be under the authority of Ministry of Home Affairs. Following this Memorandum, the appointment of three acting Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Services will take effect immediately until further orders.
Organization
Regular Forces
Para-military Forces & Reserves
Specialized Forces
Military districts
Dhaka Cantonment
Educational and Training Institutes
Training Institutes of Bangladesh Air Force
Cantonments
See also
References
External links
Retrieved from :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Armed_Forces
