Bangladesh Defense
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Bangladesh pursues balance in military modernization efforts
Despite past heavy reliance on China, South Asian nation now expanding defense ties with Russia, UK, India, Turkey, Germany - Anadolu Ajansฤฑ
www.aa.com.tr
Bangladesh pursues balance in military modernization efforts
Despite past heavy reliance on China, South Asian nation now expanding defense ties with Russia, UK, India, Turkey, Germany
Md. Kamruzzaman |08.12.2021 - Update : 08.12.2021
DHAKA, Bangladesh
Bangladesh has been modernizing its armed forces by maintaining a balanced approach, overcoming its dependency on any single other country or the dominance of great powers, say officials as well as geopolitical analysts.
"For a long time, Bangladesh has been heavily reliant on China for military weaponry since its independence in 1971. However, the situation has changed, and Bangladesh is now purchasing military equipment from several countries," A L M Fazlur Rahman, a defense analyst and former director general of the Bangladesh Border Guard, told Anadolu Agency.
According to official sources, the country launched a megaproject in 2009, dubbed Forces Goal 2030, with the goal of modernizing its military forces by 2030.
In 2017, the overcrowded delta nation of nearly 170 million people revamped the initiative, focusing on modernizing and strengthening its army, navy, and air forces with cutting-edge technology.
Underlining that the project is "time-befitting," Rahman added: "Dhaka must have the fortitude to overcome the domination of any particular external force."
Over the last few decades, the country has greatly expanded its defense cooperation with Russia, the UK, India, Turkey, and even Germany, besides China, the sources say.
Despite diplomatic pressure by neighboring India, Bangladesh purchased two submarines from China in 2016 for the first time in its history.
In retaliation, India even provided Myanmar with a Russian-made Kilo-class submarine in October last year, Rahman pointed out.
The country also announced its purchase of five British-made naval ships in November this year.
Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said the purchase would be used to monitor and protect the "huge sea boundaries from others who enter Bangladeshi maritime territories for fishing or other activities."
Boosting Turkey-Bangladesh defense ties
In recent years, the country has turned its eyes to its Muslim long-time ally Turkey for defense cooperation on a bigger scale.
Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka Mustafa Osman Turan recently said Ankara was prepared to offer Dhaka need-based defense support and military hardware without conditions, similar to what multi-launcher rockets have already delivered. He also said Turkey was open to cooperative ventures in shipbuilding, not only for the military but also for civilian purposes, as well.
Preferring not to be named as he is not authorized to talk to the media, an army official told Anadolu Agency that his country was impressed by Turkish competence in making drones and military tanks. "We hope to receive huge support from Turkey in modernizing our defense sector."
Both countries are also interested in boosting defense cooperation with combined training of their armed forces.
Last week, Adm. Adnan Ozbal, the head of the Turkish Navy, and his Bangladeshi counterpart Adm. M Shaheen Iqbal met in Dhaka for a courtesy call to discuss the topic while Ozbal was on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh.
The naval chiefs discussed an "increasing of different training activities for the development of professional skills and other bilateral issues," said a media statement issued by Bangladesh armed forces' mouthpiece, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
National defense policy
Bangladesh's original national defense policy had been issued in 1974 by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding leader, and was updated in 2018 by the government led by Rahman's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, who is now the country's fourth-term premier.
Hasina also said multiple times that the country's armed forces were being modernized to keep up with developed nations as part of a diplomatic policy of "friendship to all and malice to none."
"We have added the modern infantry gazette, state-of-the-art weapons, aircraft and helicopters, various modern engineering equipment, sky-destroying automatic SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense), VSHORAD (Very Short-Range Air Defense), state-of-the-art Oerlikon air defense systems, etc., to the armed forces," state-run media quoted the prime minister as saying while addressing a military program in Dhaka last week.
Claiming that new naval and submarine bases were in development, she added that the country's naval forces had state-of-the-art corvettes, frigates, submarines, and maritime helicopters, as well as an elite operational unit known as SWADS (Special Warfare Diving and Salvage).
"State-of-the-art fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, high-powered air-defense radar, and surface-to-air missiles have been included in the Air Force," Hasina stated.
After coming to power in 1996, Hasina and her successive government also bought eight Mig-29 jet fighters from Russia, despite criticism over cost and maintenance.
Geographical location in favor
ISPR Director Lt. Col. Abdullah Ibn Zaid told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the government is gradually modernizing its military forces in light of the country's defense policy of 1974.
"Our main purpose is to develop a modern defense force, which does not imply that we are showing strength," Zaid said, adding that the country is on track to achieve its 2030 goal of developing a modern defense system.
"I will not disclose details of our military hardware procurement from different countries," he said, adding: "But I can say we are modernizing our defense forces."
However, former army officer Fazlur Rahman told Anadolu Agency that Bangladesh's geographical location favors extending defense cooperation with two Asian giants at the same time -- China and India.
"Because we are sandwiched between two major Asian players, I frequently refer to Bangladesh as a middle kingdom. So, if we are capable of effectively managing these two powers, we can benefit from both countries, and it also applies to the defense sector," he argued.
Bangladesh has been modernizing its armed forces by maintaining a balanced approach, overcoming its dependency on any single other country or the dominance of great powers, say officials as well as geopolitical analysts.
"For a long time, Bangladesh has been heavily reliant on China for military weaponry since its independence in 1971. However, the situation has changed, and Bangladesh is now purchasing military equipment from several countries," A L M Fazlur Rahman, a defense analyst and former director general of the Bangladesh Border Guard, told Anadolu Agency.
According to official sources, the country launched a megaproject in 2009, dubbed Forces Goal 2030, with the goal of modernizing its military forces by 2030.
In 2017, the overcrowded delta nation of nearly 170 million people revamped the initiative, focusing on modernizing and strengthening its army, navy, and air forces with cutting-edge technology.
Underlining that the project is "time-befitting," Rahman added: "Dhaka must have the fortitude to overcome the domination of any particular external force."
Over the last few decades, the country has greatly expanded its defense cooperation with Russia, the UK, India, Turkey, and even Germany, besides China, the sources say.
Despite diplomatic pressure by neighboring India, Bangladesh purchased two submarines from China in 2016 for the first time in its history.
In retaliation, India even provided Myanmar with a Russian-made Kilo-class submarine in October last year, Rahman pointed out.
The country also announced its purchase of five British-made naval ships in November this year.
Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said the purchase would be used to monitor and protect the "huge sea boundaries from others who enter Bangladeshi maritime territories for fishing or other activities."
Boosting Turkey-Bangladesh defense ties
In recent years, the country has turned its eyes to its Muslim long-time ally Turkey for defense cooperation on a bigger scale.
Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka Mustafa Osman Turan recently said Ankara was prepared to offer Dhaka need-based defense support and military hardware without conditions, similar to what multi-launcher rockets have already delivered. He also said Turkey was open to cooperative ventures in shipbuilding, not only for the military but also for civilian purposes, as well.
Preferring not to be named as he is not authorized to talk to the media, an army official told Anadolu Agency that his country was impressed by Turkish competence in making drones and military tanks. "We hope to receive huge support from Turkey in modernizing our defense sector."
Both countries are also interested in boosting defense cooperation with combined training of their armed forces.
Last week, Adm. Adnan Ozbal, the head of the Turkish Navy, and his Bangladeshi counterpart Adm. M Shaheen Iqbal met in Dhaka for a courtesy call to discuss the topic while Ozbal was on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh.
The naval chiefs discussed an "increasing of different training activities for the development of professional skills and other bilateral issues," said a media statement issued by Bangladesh armed forces' mouthpiece, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
National defense policy
Bangladesh's original national defense policy had been issued in 1974 by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country's founding leader, and was updated in 2018 by the government led by Rahman's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, who is now the country's fourth-term premier.
Hasina also said multiple times that the country's armed forces were being modernized to keep up with developed nations as part of a diplomatic policy of "friendship to all and malice to none."
"We have added the modern infantry gazette, state-of-the-art weapons, aircraft and helicopters, various modern engineering equipment, sky-destroying automatic SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense), VSHORAD (Very Short-Range Air Defense), state-of-the-art Oerlikon air defense systems, etc., to the armed forces," state-run media quoted the prime minister as saying while addressing a military program in Dhaka last week.
Claiming that new naval and submarine bases were in development, she added that the country's naval forces had state-of-the-art corvettes, frigates, submarines, and maritime helicopters, as well as an elite operational unit known as SWADS (Special Warfare Diving and Salvage).
"State-of-the-art fighter jets, transport aircraft, helicopters, high-powered air-defense radar, and surface-to-air missiles have been included in the Air Force," Hasina stated.
After coming to power in 1996, Hasina and her successive government also bought eight Mig-29 jet fighters from Russia, despite criticism over cost and maintenance.
Geographical location in favor
ISPR Director Lt. Col. Abdullah Ibn Zaid told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the government is gradually modernizing its military forces in light of the country's defense policy of 1974.
"Our main purpose is to develop a modern defense force, which does not imply that we are showing strength," Zaid said, adding that the country is on track to achieve its 2030 goal of developing a modern defense system.
"I will not disclose details of our military hardware procurement from different countries," he said, adding: "But I can say we are modernizing our defense forces."
However, former army officer Fazlur Rahman told Anadolu Agency that Bangladesh's geographical location favors extending defense cooperation with two Asian giants at the same time -- China and India.
"Because we are sandwiched between two major Asian players, I frequently refer to Bangladesh as a middle kingdom. So, if we are capable of effectively managing these two powers, we can benefit from both countries, and it also applies to the defense sector," he argued.
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Army chief says force fully prepared to counter any enemy attack
Forces Goals 2030 will ensure a higher position for the Bangladesh Army globally, says Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmedhttps://www.dhakatribune.com/301918
Ali Asif Shawon
Publish : 03 Jan 2023, 11:17 PMUpdate : 03 Jan 2023, 11:17 PM
The Bangladesh Army will rise to a higher position in the world in the next seven years if the Forces Goal 2030 can be achieved within the timeframe, Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday.
โBangladesh's defence policy was formulated according to foreign policy, which is why we are not an aggressive army,โ he said. โBut if someone is aggressive against us, we can give a proper response. We are always ready to serve the nation as per the government's instructions.โ
Addressing reporters after observing the winter exercise of the Bangladesh Army at Savar Military Farm in the afternoon, Gen Shafiuddin said: โWar policies are changing around the world with the advancement of modern technology. Hence, we are developing our army with the inclusion of modern technology and regular training on modern warfare doctrine.โ
'Hard training, easy fighting'
The Army chief explained that battlefield strategies and weapons were constantly changing worldwide. โFor example, drones and missiles are being used randomly in the Russia-Ukraine war. Keeping these things in mind, necessary arrangements are being made for the army.โ
Gen Shafiuddin said the army was giving more importance to training than at any time in the past; winter exercises have been completed two years in a row, which had never happened before.
He said they were giving the utmost importance to training, keeping in mind the concept of โhard training, easy fightingโ.
โPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina also directed us to speed up training programs. The premier said not to give any concession regarding training,โ he added.
Gen Shafiuddin said they always think about the local people so that crops are not harmed because of the training. The army also gives humanitarian aid to locals.
The army chief on Tuesday distributed warm clothes while a medical team gave free treatment to underprivileged people.
All soldiers will return to their respective barracks after the winter training on January 6.
โTo boost the country's production, Bangladesh Army is also harvesting crops, cultivating fish and raising cattle in the barren fields of all cantonment areas to implement the prime minister's directives to cultivate every inch of land of the country,โ he added.
Lieutenant General Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan, Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Bangladesh Army, Lieutenant General Mohammad Saiful Alam, Quartermaster General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Tabrez Shams, General Officer Commanding of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Md Jubayer Salehin, Engineer-in-Chief at the Bangladesh Army, and other high officials were present during the press conference.
Alamgir Hossain, general secretary of the Defense Journalist Association of Bangladesh (DJAB), made some remarks on the journalists' behalf. DJAB Joint General Secretary Tariqul Islam Masum, Executive Committee Member Ali Asif Shawon, and Member Kazi Shohag, among others, were also present.
Success in UN missions
The army chief also spoke of the success of the Bangladesh Army in becoming the highest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions.โThis happened due to professionalism, honesty, dedication and rigorous training,โ he said.
โThe army personnel are separated for a certain time before they are sent to the UN missions. After that, another specialized training is provided just three months before their departure,โ the top army official added.
About the ongoing winter exercise, Gen Shafiuddin said: โThis year's training is almost successful in all aspects.โ
Replying to a query, he said: โBefore taking charge, I said that I would increase transparency in the army and I have done it.
Beside this, I have reduced the army's distance from the people and the media workers.โ
https://www.dhakatribune.com/301918
