[🇧🇩-Land] Bangladesh Army News/Views

[Saif]

Dismissed soldier Naimul Islam arrested on charges of sabotage: ISPR

Dismissed soldier Md Naimul Islam has been arrested on the charges of instigating sabotage and causing disorder, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today, Saturday.

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Dismissed soldier Naimul Islam arrested on charges of sabotage: ISPR
BSS Dhaka
Published: 17 May 2025, 20: 04

Dismissed soldier Md Naimul Islam Courtesy of ISPR

Dismissed soldier Md Naimul Islam has been arrested on the charges of instigating sabotage and causing disorder, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today, Saturday.

The ISPR said that since 5 August last year, Naimul had been collaborating with several other dismissed or discharged ex-military personnel to make provocative statements in the media and plot subversive activities.

"He planned a large-scale act of sabotage disguised as a protest rally at the entrance of Dhaka Cantonment on 18 May, and had been actively causing incitement through social media platforms," reads the statement.

To deter such disorderly conduct, a team from the army attempted to make contact with Naimul around 2:00 pm today in the Khilkhet Bott Tola Bazar area.

However, Naimul, along with several associates, allegedly launched a sudden attack with locally-made weapons on the military personnel present, said the ISPR.

A nearby army patrol team quickly intervened, leading to the arrest of Naimul and two of his associates, the statement added.

The ISPR also mentioned that Naimul had previously been dismissed from service due to multiple disciplinary violations, including allegations of demanding dowry from his wife, and committing both physical and mental abuse.

Legal proceedings are currently underway against him, it said.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman set to visit China by end of June

China will be the first country the Bangladesh Army chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, will visit by the end of June this

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Bangladesh Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman set to visit China by end of June
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This will be Gen Zaman’s fist ever China visit after being appointed Army chief on June 23, 2024, by the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime.​

by Chandan Nandy​

May 22, 2025

in Neighbours

China will be the first country the Bangladesh Army chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, will visit by the end of June this year after making it clear to the Mohammad Yunus-led interim regime that there should be no “humanitarian corridor” to Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

While the details of his forthcoming visit to China are being worked out by different directorates within the Army, it is learnt that the Gen Zaman’s trip to Beijing will take place following a formal invitation from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Gen Zaman’s visit is aimed at greater defence hardware acquisitions from China, which has traditionally been the principal supplier of weapons and air assets to the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Air Force. For this reason, the Bangladesh Army’s Directorate of Weaponry and Systems (DWE&S) is coordinating with other directorates on the visit.

Representatives of the directorates of Infantry, Army Aviation, Artillery, Signals, Ordnance, Engineers, Armoured, Military Operations, Military Operations, Military Intelligence and Military Training will meet at the DWE&S conference room to chalk out the details of Gen Zaman’s visit.

On May 13, Bangladesh Army’s Master General of Ordinance Branch Major General Abu Bakar Siddique Khan and other senior officers met a four-member team of executives of China Vanguard Co Ltd to discuss plans to acquire HQ-17AE surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), JSG radars and FK-3 medium-range-surface-to-air missiles (MSAMs).

It could not be confirmed whether Gen Zaman will sign agreements on the acquisition of the SAM and MSAM and JSG radars. Sources said that he will meet senior PLA officers and discuss avenues for greater defence cooperation between China and Bangladesh.

Exactly a year ago, Bangladesh and China held their first-ever joint military exercise ‘Golden Friendship-2024’, which aimed to fine-tune peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations and involved mixed groups training on scenarios like anti-hijacking and camp elimination.

There were reports last year that China transferred various military technologies to Bangladesh, which is said to have started an initiative to build a domestic defence industrial base.

So far, Beijing’s technology transfer has been to the Bangladesh Ordnance Factories and Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory Ltd for small and medium-sized weapons such as rifles, rocket launchers, MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems), and light utility vehicles.

In October 2024, the PLA sent two warships to the Chittagong port for a goodwill visit. However, China delivered to the Bangladesh Navy two Type 035G Ming-class diesel-electric submarines in 2016.

These submarines, originally commissioned by the Chinese Navy, were upgraded and retrofitted – at Dalian Liaoning South Shipyard – before being transferred to Bangladesh. The submarines, commissioned as BNS Nabajatra and BNS Joyjatra on March 12, 2017, are now based at Pekua, which is about 68 km south of Chittagong.

More recently, Bangladesh Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus’ March 2025 visit to China and his offer to his hosts to develop an old airbase at Lalmonirhat raised eyebrows in New Delhi. The Bangladesh Air Force is reportedly interested in procuring the China-made J-10C fighter aircraft or the JF-17 variant, though its senior management may not be averse to the Eurofighter that is manufactured by a consortium of European companies.​

 

[Saif]

No rift between govt and military, working together

The Army Headquarters has stated that the government and the military are not in opposition to each other and are instead working together in coordination. This statement was made in response to a journalist’s question during a press briefing held today, Monday.

en.prothomalo.com

Army Headquarters briefing
No rift between govt and military, working together
Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 26 May 2025, 18: 55

Brigadier General Md Nazim-Ud-Doula, Director of Military Operations of the Bangladesh Army, spoke at the press briefing. It was held on Monday afternoon at the Officers' Mess in Dhaka Cantonment. Photo: Mahmudul Hasan

The Army Headquarters has stated that the government and the military are not in opposition to each other and are working together in coordination.

This statement was made in response to a journalist’s question during a press briefing held today, Monday.

The briefing took place at the Officers' Mess in Dhaka Cantonment, where Brigadier General Md Nazim-Ud-Doula, Director of Military Operations, and Colonel Md Shafiqul Islam, Colonel Staff of the Directorate of Military Operations, spoke on national security and other current issues.

In response to a question about the proposal of a humanitarian corridor in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, Colonel Md Shafiqul Islam said, “The army will not be involved in any activity that compromises the country’s security.”

Addressing concerns raised by media reports about big disagreements between the government and the military, Brigadier General Nazim-Ud-Doula said, “There’s been speculation that there are serious differences between the government and the military. The way it’s being portrayed in the media is not accurate. We are working harmoniously and in mutual understanding. There is no room for misinterpretation.”

Calling on the public to view these matters with a calm and simple perspective, he added: “We should not assume the government and military are operating in conflict or thinking separately. That is not the case. The government and military are working together, and we strongly believe this cooperation will continue in the future.”

According to the Army Headquarters, in the last 40 days, the army has recovered 241 illegal firearms, 709 rounds of ammunition and since last August, a total of 9,611 illegal firearms and 285,761 rounds of ammunition have been seized.

In the past one month alone, 1,969 individuals involved in various crimes were arrested. In total, 14,266 people have been apprehended so far, including members of juvenile gangs, listed criminals, kidnappers, smugglers, fraudsters, syndicates, extortionists, robbers and muggers.

It was also said in the briefing that in the past 40 days, 487 drug dealers were arrested in joint operations and since August, 4,400 individuals involved in drug-related crimes have been apprehended. A large quantity of illegal drugs was recovered, including yaba, Phensedyl, cannabis, and illegal alcohol, helping restore peace and safety in affected communities.

During the briefing, officials discussed special measures for managing traffic during Eid-ul-Azha. To ensure smooth and secure travel for holiday-goers, the Bangladesh Army will run a two-week special operation before and after Eid.

Key actions include round-the-clock patrols at major highways, bus terminals, rail stations and launch terminals and establishing checkposts at key points to control speeding, preventing black market ticket sales, running awareness campaigns to ensure public safety. These efforts aim to ensure a peaceful and safe Eid for all, similar to previous Eid-ul-Fitr operations.

Regarding concerns around livestock markets during Eid-ul-Azha, the army said that these markets often become hotspots for extortion and robbery. Markets located on main roads cause traffic jams and public inconvenience.

The army will conduct regular patrols and special operations to prevent criminal activities and ensure public safety at the markets.​

 

[Saif]

ISPR protests Indian media’s report on ‘Military Operations Zone’ in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Army has protested an article titled “Bangladesh to declare Cox’s Bazar to Bandarban area as a military operations zone” by Northeast News

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ISPR protests Indian media’s report on ‘Military Operations Zone’ in Bangladesh
Prothom Alo English Desk Dhaka
Updated: 01 Jun 2025, 21: 37

Bangladesh Army has protested an article titled “Bangladesh to declare Cox’s Bazar to Bandarban area as a military operations zone” by Northeast News, an Indian news outlet.

The article by Northeast News is a clear example of deliberate disinformation propagated by segments of the Indian media seeking to destabilise Bangladesh’s internal cohesion and undermine its armed forces, says a press release of Inter Services Public Relations.

“The insinuation that the Bangladesh Army supports insurgent actors, is not only baseless but malicious. Such speculative reporting, devoid of evidence, reflects a broader agenda to sow discord and mislead the public,” says the ISPR.

“The Bangladesh Army has always upheld the highest standards of professionalism and remains resolutely committed to protecting the nation’s sovereignty, integrity, and constitutional order. There will be no compromise on national interest—now or ever. This narrative is not journalism; it is part of a sustained smear campaign. Bangladesh stands united and aligned firmly in defence of its people and its territory,” it added.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh NSA Khalilur Rahman to be in China as Gen Waker-uz-Zaman’s June-end Beijing visit stands cancelled

Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Khalilur Rahman and Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus’ Principal Secretary Mohammad Siraz Uddin Miah will visit

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Bangladesh NSA Khalilur Rahman to be in China as Gen Waker-uz-Zaman’s June-end Beijing visit stands cancelled​

Khalilur Rahman will be accompanied by Siraz Uddin Miah, Principal Secretary to Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus. The duo will be in China between June 27 and 29, once the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit ends.

Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Khalilur Rahman and Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus’ Principal Secretary Mohammad Siraz Uddin Miah will visit China on June 27, the very day that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s meeting at Qingdao ends, Northeast News has reliably learnt.

Khalilur Rahman, who is currently in the United States, will be in China till June 29 and is expected to have “consultations” on Dhaka-Beijing cooperation.

What is, however, surprising is that Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman’s visit to Beijing now stands cancelled. Gen Zaman was invited to visit China by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) top brass.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath and NSA Ajit Doval will reach Qingdao on June 25 to attend the SCO defence ministers’ meeting, which will be attended by his Pakistani counterpart, Khwaja Asif. However, it is unlikely that Singh and Asif will meet, considering the level of hostility between New Delhi and Islamabad in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.

Singh may meet China’s Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

There is no official word on whether the Indian and Bangladeshi NSAs will meet before the departure of the former to New Delhi.

However, Khalilur Rahman’s visit is being seen by Bangladeshi strategic analysts as important as he is expected to discuss the now-aborted “humanitarian corridor” issue. Conceived by the United Nations, the “humanitarian corridor” was to be close to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

Khalilur Rahman, who has been maintaining clandestine ties with the Arakan Army leadership, had earlier strongly advocated the use of the “humanitarian corridor” supposedly for sending humanitarian assistance to the Rakhine State. But he had to abandon the proposed “humanitarian corridor” plan in the face of strong objections and disapproval by the Bangladesh Army in general and Gen Waker-uz-Zaman in particular.​

 

[Saif]

ISPR issues clarification on Army letter regarding alleged police harassment

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) today (Saturday) issued a clarification regarding an administrative letter from the Army Headquarters that was recently circulated on social media, noting that the content of the letter has been misinterpreted. The press release noted that the lette

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

ISPR issues clarification on Army letter regarding alleged police harassment

Published :
Jul 12, 2025 21:24
Updated :
Jul 12, 2025 21:24

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) today (Saturday) issued a clarification regarding an administrative letter from the Army Headquarters that was recently circulated on social media, noting that the content of the letter has been misinterpreted.

The press release noted that the letter was issued solely in response to a request from the National Independent Investigation Commission formed to probe the brutal killings during the 2009 Pilkhana BDR mutiny which called for compiling a list of alleged harassments of military personnel by police at different times, BSS reports.

It further added that the letter was immediately withdrawn by Army Headquarters to prevent any kind of misinterpretation or unintended reactions.

Clarifying the matter, the ISPR said the letter being misinterpreted by a vested quarter in an attempt to create misunderstanding and mistrust between the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Police.

Both the Bangladesh Army and Police have long been working together with mutual respect, coordination, and professional camaraderie to ensure national security and law enforcement, the letter says.

ISPR urged all concerned to refrain from spreading misleading or motivated information on social media or in the media regarding this issue.​