[🇧🇩-Airforce] Bangladesh Air Force

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Pakistan & Bangladesh Air Force to hold a massive joint aerial exercise​

 

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বিমান বাহিনীতে ধরা পড়েছে RAW এর গুপ্তচর Squadron Leader Abdullah Ibne Altaf​

 

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Although I am not in agreement with the logic put forth by the author to turn away from China and Russia for the modernization of Bangladesh air force, I am posting the article here in the hope that it will generate healthy and constructive discussion.

Modernising The Bangladesh Air Force: Time to Turn Away From China and Russia | CGS

cgs-bd.com

Modernising The Bangladesh Air Force: Time to Turn Away From China and Russia
Khandakar Tahmid Rejwan | 12 September 2024

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) needs modernisation. This time, rather than arming itself via Russia and China again, it should look west.

The deposing of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina presents an opportunity for a change of direction. The new government of Muhammad Yunus can modernise the BAF with western equipment. Doing so will strengthen Bangladesh’s long-standing foreign policy of non-alignment. Major BAF weapon systems, such as fighters, utility helicopters and surface-to-air missiles, were made by Russia or China. They are already decades old and have proven unreliable in the field.

Since independence in 1971, Bangladesh has stressed its principle of non-alignment. In maintaining this stance, Dhaka should be careful about Beijing’s and Moscow’s attempts to co-opt developing nations for their strategic advantage. To maintain neutrality, Bangladesh must strike a balance by also turning westward, curtailing over-reliance on Russia and China.

The dependence of Bangladesh’s neighbour Myanmar on China and of India on Russia are further reasons for Bangladesh to seek the superior equipment from the West.

Dhaka already faces tremendous challenges in executing its guiding modernisation program, ‘Forces Goal 2030’. It was offered as a solution to the BAF’s inability to operate modern aircraft, the risks to personnel lives from the existing systems and the need to enforce Bangladesh’s sovereign air space. It also aimed at bringing diversity to the armoury with NATO equipment, but it is likely that it will fall short of this goal.

According to a 1999 RAND report, some developing countries buy Chinese weapons because the equipment is ‘cheap and available’. The same can be said about Russian arms sales. And both of those countries also try to achieve strategic influence over a developing nation by providing broad access to their designs.

The BAF has had to pay a hefty price for this compromise. Four of the 16 Russian Yak-130 fighter-trainers crashed in less than a decade, in one case resulting in the death of the pilot. A pilot ‘went missing’ and was never found when a F-7MB newly acquired from China crashed in the Bay of Bengal in 2015. It has become normal for Chinese-made fighters and basic trainers like K-8 or PT-6 to crash due to malfunctions.

Dhaka should start procuring high-end systems, such as multi-role combat aircraft from reliable and efficient western suppliers. Potential partners include European countries, which make such fighters as the Rafale, Typhoon and Gripen. Though not strictly Western, Japan and South Korea could supply other types of aircraft.

All these states share warm bilateral ties with Bangladesh. Britain and the US perform joint exercises with Bangladesh and pay reciprocal visits. Because of these ties, the BAF’s personnel would welcome the introduction of Western equipment.

The West was critical of Hasina’s blind eye to eroding democratic values and her rigged re-election campaign. Consequently, defence ties were not deepened during her second tenure from 2009 to 2024. That was another reason for Hasina preferring to buy from Beijing and Moscow.

There are also military-technical reasons for the BAF to look to the west in its attempts to modernise. The war in Ukraine has become a graveyard of the Russian military-industrial complex. The sheer amount of Russian hardware lost against a much smaller army is shocking. Chinese systems are predominantly based off on Russian systems and are not battle-tested, as China has not seen an active combat situation since 1979.

Bangladesh’s change of government opens an opportunity to buy from democratic countries that will no longer hesitate in dealing with it as an autocracy. It’s a chance that should be seized.

Khandakar Tahmid Rejwan is a research data analyst at the Bangladesh Peace Observatory-Centre for Alternatives.​

 

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NEED FOR DOCTRINE DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN BANGLADESH AIR FORCE

 

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অনির্বাণ : বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী পরিবেশিত

 

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ভারতের সীমান্ত ঘেষে বাংলাদেশের বিমান ঘাটি, দিল্লির আপত্তি, বাংলাদেশ অনড় (India has objected to the construction of an airbase in Lalmonirhut, near chicken's neck. But Bangladesh is going ahead with the construction of the airbase in full swing.)

 

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বিমান ঘাটি নির্মানে অনড় বাংলাদেশ ! জানা গেল ভারতের আপত্তির মূল কারণ

 

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1 dies as miscreants create disturbance at Cox's Bazar air base

ISPR issues detailed statement

www.thedailystar.net

1 dies as miscreants create disturbance at Cox's Bazar air base
ISPR issues detailed statement

A person has died in connection with the violence at the air force base in Cox's Bazar today.

The deceased was identified by his family members as Shihab Kabir Nahid, 25, from Samitipara.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Sabuktagin Mahmud Shohel, resident medical officer of Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, said a person aged around 25 was "brought dead" to the hospital.

The medical officer said the victim had suffered deep injuries at the back of his head.

Reasons behind the death will be ascertained after autopsy, he added.

ISPR STATEMENT

Meanwhile the ISPR said in a statement that local miscreants from Samitipara, near the air force base in Cox's Bazar, launched a sudden attack on the Air Force base on Monday.

The communique, signed by ISPR Assistant Director Ayesha Siddiqua, said a local had been brought inside the air base for questioning from a checkpoint, as he did not have the necessary documents for his motorcycle.

Then, approximately 200 people from Samitipara advanced towards the air force base while air force personnel blocked their path.

As the number of locals increased, a clash ensued between the air force personnel and local miscreants near the checkpoint.

The press release continued, that these miscreants were instigated to throw brickbats at the air force personnel.

Several people including four from the air force (one officer and three airmen) were injured.

A young man named Shihab Kabir Nahid was severely injured and later passed away after being taken to a local hospital on an air force vehicle.

The release stresses that in accordance with the air force rules of engagement, the air force personnel had fired blank rounds, not live ammunition, at the locals.

The air force personnel are currently undergoing medical treatment at the hospital.

The brick chips also damaged windows of an air force vehicle. Besides, locals attempted to set fire to bushes, but it did not spread, said the ISPR.

A malicious group aiming to tarnish the reputation of the air force began spreading false rumors on social media, claiming that the young man had been killed by the air force gunfire, which is not true, said the press release.

Upon examining photos of spent cartridges that have been circulated, it is clear that these were from blanks, which are non-lethal and only produce sound.

The Bangladesh air force expresses deep sorrow over the death of the young man and extends condolences to his family.​

 

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Cox’s Bazar man not killed by Air Force gunfire: ISPR

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has refuted claims that a man was killed by gunfire from Bangladesh Air Force personnel during a clash near the Air Force base in Cox’s Bazar. “A group with malicious intent has been spreading false information on social media, claiming

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Cox’s Bazar man not killed by Air Force gunfire: ISPR
bdnews24.com
Published :
Feb 24, 2025 20:59
Updated :
Feb 24, 2025 20:59

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has refuted claims that a man was killed by gunfire from Bangladesh Air Force personnel during a clash near the Air Force base in Cox’s Bazar.

“A group with malicious intent has been spreading false information on social media, claiming the young man was killed by Air Force gunfire, which is untrue,” the ISPR said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, around 12pm, locals clashed with Air Force personnel in Cox’s Bazar Municipality’s Ward No 1, near the Samiti Para next to the base.

Brickbats were thrown, and there were chase and counter-chase incidents, during which gunshots were also fired.

In an earlier statement, the ISPR said: “Some criminals from Samiti Para, adjacent to the Cox’s Bazar Air Force base, launched an unprovoked attack on the base. The Bangladesh Air Force is taking the necessary measures in this regard.”

While the ISPR did not confirm any casualties, both police and local authorities reported one death and several injuries.

The dead has been identified as Sihab Kabir Nahid, 30, a businessman from Samiti Para.

His body has been kept at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue.

Shihab’s mother, Amena Khatun, a retired headteacher at Cox's Bazar Government High School, told journalists at the hospital: “The Air Force shot my son in the head.”

Residents also claimed that Shihab died from gunshot wounds.

However, neither police nor hospital authorities have confirmed this.

ISPR said, “Upon examining the photo of the spent shell casing, it was found to be from a blank cartridge, which is non-lethal and produces only sound.”

“The Bangladesh Air Force expressed deep condolences and sympathy to the family of the dead.”

ISPR'S ACCOUNT OF INCIDENT

The ISPR statement highlighted the Air Force's account of the incident in Samiti Para.

It said a group of miscreants from the area launched a sudden attack on the base on Monday.

"A local man was taken inside the base for questioning as he lacked proper documents for his motorcycle at a checkpost near BIAM Laboratory School and College. When around 200 locals approached the base, Air Force personnel attempted to prevent them.

“As the crowd grew, a clash broke out between the Air Force personnel and the miscreants," the ISPR said.

Encouraged by certain groups, the attackers threw brickbats, injuring several people, including four Air Force personnel—one officer and three airmen.

The ISPR said, “Shihab Kabir Nahid, a young man, suffered severe injuries and was rushed to a local hospital in an Air Force vehicle, where he later succumbed to his injuries.”

It clarified that, in accordance with the Rules of Engagement, the Air Force fired blank rounds to protect the base, but no live ammunition was used against the local population.

The injured Air Force personnel are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

The ISPR also said the Air Force vehicle was damaged by brickbats, and that there were attempts by the locals to set fire to the bushes nearby, although the fire did not spread further.

‘SHEIKH HASINA AIR FORCE BASE’ IS NOT THE NAME

The ISPR said, "In reporting the incident, some online news portals and social media platforms are maliciously referring to the name of the base as Sheikh Hasina Air Force, which is not true."

It clarified that the base was officially renamed Bangladesh Air Force Base Cox’s Bazar through a government notification on Dec 2, 2021, and this remains unchanged.

The ISPR emphasised that the Bangladesh Air Force is not only safeguarding the airspace but also working alongside the public to deal with the overall situation in the country.

“It will continue to work for the well-being of the people in the future.”​