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#Mankarchar ('''[[Squadron Leader]] [[M.Hamidullah Khan]]''' July 15 ~ November 2); |
#Mankarchar ('''[[Squadron Leader]] [[M.Hamidullah Khan]]''' July 15 ~ November 2); |
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#Mahendraganj ('''[[Major]] [[Abu Taher]]''' - |
#Mahendraganj ('''[[Major]] [[Abu Taher]]''' Deceased - August 18 ~ October 10); [[Lieutenant]] Mannan); |
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#Purakhasia ([[Lieutenant]] Hashem); |
#Purakhasia ([[Lieutenant]] Hashem); |
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#Dhalu ([[Lieutenant]] Taher; [[Lieutenant]] Kamal); |
#Dhalu ([[Lieutenant]] Taher; [[Lieutenant]] Kamal); |
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***- Battery Officer: Second Lieutenant ''Kazi Sazzad Ali Zahir'' |
***- Battery Officer: Second Lieutenant ''Kazi Sazzad Ali Zahir'' |
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**'''No. 1 Signal Company''' - Unit formed on 5th September 1971, '''CO''': '''Captain''' '''Abdul Halim.''' Since October the First Signal Company of Bangladesh Forces was assigned to 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. |
**'''No. 1 Signal Company''' - Unit formed on 5th September 1971, '''CO''': '''Captain''' '''Abdul Halim.''' Since October the First Signal Company of Bangladesh Forces was assigned to 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. |
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=='''War Crimes''' of the Indian Army and RAW== |
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The Indian Army's Major General Sujat Singh Uban of the [[RAW]]'s [[SFF]] was successful in their highly unauthorised, criminally covert missions during the Bangladesh's independence struggle in 1971. Uban's SSF trained the notorious Bangladeshi underground units, [[Mujib Bahini]], [[Hemayet Bahini]] and [[Kaderia Bahini]] for their sceret missions under the tacit auspices of Indian army chief General [[Sam Manekshaw]], unknown to even [[Arora]] and provided them with weapons, ammunitions and small communications equipment. The Inspector General S. S. Uban urged that the SFF be used to capture Chittagong, but SFF members did not have artillery, communications or airlift support to conduct missions of that magnitude. However they conducted a few covert small missions including the operation at the Kalurghat radio station, in which all declaration of independence documents went missing. The SFF moved into East Pakistan on 03 December 1971, when they were loaned four Indian Air Force Mi-4 helicopters for crucial airlifts and fire cover. They successfully blew up Bangladesh Forces General M. A. G. Osmani's helicopter ride to Niazi's surrender. Under Uban's directives even Major Zia had been transferred out of Sector 1 to Teldhala area north of Bakhshiganj, Jamalpur, soon after the war broke. |
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The secret militia's known as personal '''Bahini'''s ({{lang-bn|বাহিনী}}) were actually among the three notorious murderous militia units during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in 1971, funded, equiped and operated under the tacit support and guidance of the Indian [[RAW]]'s para-military unit the [[SFF]] led by Major General [[Sujat Singh Uban]]. |
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[[Hemayet Uddin]], [[Kader Siddique]], who was known as the ('Buther') led small but furious teams with so much influence that the forces took the forces under their names, Kaderiya Bahini or the Force of Kader and [[Hemayet Bahini]]. |
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''The Forces and Areas'' - |
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In 1971, Kader's militia tortured, murdered and looted properties of innocent civilians and freedom fighters in the Tangail Area similar to [[Hemayet Bahini]] in the Faridpur areas. His forces started killing freedom fighters and innocent peasant land owners which led to genocide and rape without any border. At that time, the young dacoits and delinquents took part in such overt and illegal activities and blamed it conveniently on Pakistan army. The main force which was [[Mujib Bahini]], led by Tofael, Razzak, Moni and Rezaul worked in other limited areas away from main [[Bangladesh Forces]], and [[Hemayet Bahini]] in [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]] zone under [[Hemayet Uddin]]. [[Mujib Bahini]] which was organized and trained for similar activities also received direct training and active assistance of Major General Uban of the [[Indian Army]]. |
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''Activities'' - |
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These groups carried out many under ground criminally overt operations in Tangail and Faridpur regions. Along with the other notorious force [[Mujib Bahini]], the three illegal terrorist militia's principle operations consisted of infilitrating bonafide freedom fighter groups, mass murder of them and their families including of innocent civilians, loot of land and property and rapes. |
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''Abolition'' - |
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At the end of the war, on 16 December 1971, [[Kaderia Bahini]]'s forces along with Uban's [[Mujib Bahini]], and [[Hemayet Bahini]] entered Dhaka with the Indian forces, clad with ammunitions and weapons signalling the end of the war. They continued conducting mass killing of freedom fighters, looting of properties and wealth even after the end of the war in many parts of the country and assisted Indian Army in doing the same while exiting through the borders from December to March 1972. |
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A special element of the [[SFF]] force, mostly Tibetan's were sent to Mizoram in late November 1971. This Task Force was deployed and conducted pre-emptive strike operations in support of the Indian army formations along the Chittagong Hill Tracts. For the small Bangladeshi campaign, designated Operation Mountain Eagle, the SFF members were issued Bulgarian AK-47's and US carbines. SFF conducted several mission, including the destruction of the Kaptai Dam and other bridges. They also halted members of the Pakistani 97 Independent Brigade and of the 2nd Commando Battalion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This operation saw the first Dapon, Tibet an equivalent of a Brigadier General to command part of the SFF Task Force. By the time Pakistan surrendered, the SFF had lost 56 men -- nearly 190 were wounded -- but they blocked a potential escape route for Pakistani forces into Burma. |
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With the Pakistani Lt. General [[A.A.K. Niazi]] signing the ceasefire on 16th December 1971, the SFF had engaged in looting, murder and confiscating of property of Bangladesh and vital historical artifacts and documents pretaining to the war. The Indian government gave cash awards to 58 operatives of the [[SFF]] for their under cover conduct during the Bangladeshi campaign. |
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==Role of the Military== |
==Role of the Military== |
Revision as of 20:35, 23 April 2011
Bangladesh Armed Forces | |
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বাংলাদেশ সশস্ত্র বাহিনী | |
File:BD tri-service badge.png | |
Founded | 1971 April 4th |
Service branches | Flag of the Bangladesh Army বাংলাদেশ সেনা বাহিনী (Army) বাংলাদেশ নৌ বাহিনী (Navy) Flag of the Bangladesh Air Force বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী (Air Force) |
Headquarters | Dhaka Cantonment |
Leadership | |
President of Bangladesh | Zillur Rahman |
Prime Minister of Bangladesh | Sheikh Hasina Wajed |
Personnel | |
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) |
Expenditure | |
Budget | $1.33 billion (2010) |
Percent of GDP | 1.18% (2010) |
Industry | |
Domestic suppliers | BMTF LogoBangladesh Machine Tools Factory BOF LogoBangladesh Ordnance Factories |
Foreign suppliers | China Pakistan Russia South Korea Turkey United Kingdom United States |
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[1] 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 "Bangabhaban", 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 C R Datta, Major M. A. Jalil, Captain Rafiqul Islam, Lt. Col. Abdur Rab[disambiguation needed], Wing Commander Khademul Bashar, Major Najmul Haque, Major Mir Shawkat Ali. 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.[2]
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 Command 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
Sectors of Bangladesh Forces - War of Independence | |||
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Sector & Date of Formation | Area | Sector Commander | Sub Sectors (Commanders) |
Sector 1 - April 4, 1971 | Chittagong District, Chittagong Hill Tracts, and the entire eastern area of the Noakhali District on the banks of the river Muhuri. The headquarters of the sector was at Harina. | • Major Ziaur Rahman - Deceased (April 10, 1971 – May 10, 1971) • Major Rafiqul Islam (May 10, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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Sector 2 - April 4, 1971 | Districts of Dhaka, Comilla, and Faridpur, and part of Noakhali District. | • Major Khaled Mosharraf - Deceased (April 10, 1971 – September 22, 1971) • Major ATM Haider (Sector Commander September 22, 1971 – December 18, 1972) |
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Sector 3 - April 4, 1971 | Area between Churaman Kathi (near Sreemangal) and Sylhet in the north and Singerbil of Brahmanbaria in the south. | • Major K M Shafiullah[3](April 10, 1971 – July 21, 1971) • Captain ANM Nuruzzaman (July 23, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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Sector 4 - April 4, 1971 | Area from Habiganj District on the north to Kanaighat Police Station on the south along the 100 mile long border with India. The headquarters of the sector was initially at Karimganj and later at Masimpur. | • Major Chittaranjan Datta (April 10, 1971 – February 14, 1972) • Captain A. Rab |
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Sector 5 | Area from Durgapur to Danki (Tamabil) of Sylhet District and the entire area up to the eastern borders of the district. The headquarters of the sector was at Shilong, Bharat. | • Major Mir Shawkat Ali - Deceased (July 30, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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Sector 11 - June 10, 1971 | Mymensingh and Tangail along with parts of Rangpur - Gaibandha, Ulipur, Kamalpur and Chilmari. The headquarters of the sector was at Teldhala until October 10, then transferred to Mahendraganj. | • Major Ziaur Rahman - Deceased (May 15, 1971 – October 10, 1971) • Major Abu Taher - Deceased(October 10, 1971 – November 2, 1971) • Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan (November 2, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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Sector 6 | Rangpur District and part of Dinajpur District. The headquarters of the sector was at Burimari near Patgram. | • Wing Commander M Khademul Bashar - Deceased (July 30, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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Sector 7 | Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra and part of Dinajpur District. The headquarters of the sector was at Taranngapur. | • Major Nazmul Huq (Aug 02 – August 20, 1971) • Major Kazi Nuruzzaman (August 21 – February 14, 1972) • Subedar Major A Rab |
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Sector 8 | In April 1971, the operational area of the sector comprised the districts of Kushtia, Jessore, Khulna, Barisal, Faridpur and Patuakhali. At the end of May the sector was reconstituted and comprised the districts of Kuhstia, Jessore, Khulna, Satkhira and the northern part of Faridpur district. The headquarters of the sector was at Benapole. | • Major Abu Osman Chowdhury - DISMISSED (May 15 – June 30, 1971) • Major Abul Manzur - Deceased (August 15, 1971 – February 14, 1972) |
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Sector 9 | Barisal, Patuakhali, and parts of the district of Khulna and Faridpur. | • Major M A Jalil - Deceased (July 17 – December 24, 1971) • Major Abul Manzur • Major Joynal Abedin |
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Sector 10 | This sector consisted of the Naval Commandos. | • Commander HQ BD Forces (December 3–16, 1971) | None. |
BD Forces 1971 Brigades and Regiment Commanders
- K Force (Brigade) - Unit formed on August 30th, 1971, Commanded by Major Khaled Mosharraf (Commander - Sector 2)
- 4th East Bengal Regiment - Commanding Officer -
- 9th East Bengal Regiment - Commanding Officer -
- 10th East Bengal Regiment - Commanding Officer -
- S Force (Brigade) - Unit formed on September 24th, 1971 Commanded by Major K M Shafiullah (Commander - Sector 4)
- 2nd East Bengal Regiment - Commanding Officer -
- 11th East Bengal Regiment - Commanding Officer -
- Z Force (Brigade) - Unit formed on July 17th, 1971. Commanded by Major Ziaur Rahman (Commander - Sector 11 )
- 1st East Bengal Regiment - CO - Major Ziauddin. 1st East Bengal Regiment's Senior Officer Major Ziauddin was appointed as CO on July 1st, 1971 after the operational attack on Pakistan Army BOP at Kamalpur took place.
- - Battalion Adjutant/Quartermaster: Flight Lieutenant Liaqat Ali Khan
- 'Alpha' Company Commander: Captain Mahbubur Rahman
- 'Bravo' Company Commander: Captain Hafiz Uddin Ahmad
- 'Charlie' Company Commander: Captain Salah Uddin Momtaz
- Acting Company Commander - Second Lieutenant Anisur Rahman
- Acting Platoon Commander - Second Lieutenant Wakar Hassan
- 3rd East Bengal Regiment - CO : Major Shafaat Jamil.
- - 2IC: Captain Mohsin Uddin Ahmad
- - Battalion Adjutant: Flight Lieutenant Ashraful Alam
- - RMO: Dr. Wasi Uddin
- - Acting Company Commander: Second Lieutenant Fazle Hossain
- - Company Officer: Flight Lieutenant Ashraful Alam
- - Platoon Commander: Second Lieutenant Manzur Ahmad
- 'Alpha' Company: Captain Anwar Hossain
- 'Bravo' Company: Captain Akbar Hossain
- 'Charlie' Company: Captain Mohsin Uddin Ahmad
- 8th East Bengal Regiment - CO: Major Abu Zafar Muhammad Aminul Haque
- - 2IC: Captain Khaleq Uz Zaman Chowdhury
- - RMO: Dr. Belayet Hossain
- - Acting Company Commander: Second Lieutenant Emdadul Haq
- - Company Officer: Second Lieutenant Munibur Rahman
- - Platoon Commander: Second Lieutenant Abu Zafar
- 'Alpha' Company: Captain Khaleq Uz Zaman Chowdhury
- 'Bravo' Company: Captain Sadeq Hossain
- 'Charlie' Company: Lieutenant Modasser Hossain
- 'Delta' Company: Lieutenant Mahbubur Rahman
- 2nd Field Artillery Battery (Rawshanara Battery) - CO: Major Khandkar Abdur Rashid. During mid September six 105mm Howitzers were delivered at Assam's Masimpur district from India's Echo sector. Primarily with these six artillery pieces the 2nd FA battery was formed at Koishal, India, opposite Sylhet border area. From 10th October, 2nd FA battery assisted Z Force in the Sylhet sector in direct fire support and ground operations during multiple missions against Pakistan army strongholds.
- - Battery Adjutant: Captain A. M. Rashed Chowdhury
- - Battery Officer: Second Lieutenant Kazi Sazzad Ali Zahir
- No. 1 Signal Company - Unit formed on 5th September 1971, CO: Captain Abdul Halim. Since October the First Signal Company of Bangladesh Forces was assigned to 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.
- 1st East Bengal Regiment - CO - Major Ziauddin. 1st East Bengal Regiment's Senior Officer Major Ziauddin was appointed as CO on July 1st, 1971 after the operational attack on Pakistan Army BOP at Kamalpur took place.
War Crimes of the Indian Army and RAW
The Indian Army's Major General Sujat Singh Uban of the RAW's SFF was successful in their highly unauthorised, criminally covert missions during the Bangladesh's independence struggle in 1971. Uban's SSF trained the notorious Bangladeshi underground units, Mujib Bahini, Hemayet Bahini and Kaderia Bahini for their sceret missions under the tacit auspices of Indian army chief General Sam Manekshaw, unknown to even Arora and provided them with weapons, ammunitions and small communications equipment. The Inspector General S. S. Uban urged that the SFF be used to capture Chittagong, but SFF members did not have artillery, communications or airlift support to conduct missions of that magnitude. However they conducted a few covert small missions including the operation at the Kalurghat radio station, in which all declaration of independence documents went missing. The SFF moved into East Pakistan on 03 December 1971, when they were loaned four Indian Air Force Mi-4 helicopters for crucial airlifts and fire cover. They successfully blew up Bangladesh Forces General M. A. G. Osmani's helicopter ride to Niazi's surrender. Under Uban's directives even Major Zia had been transferred out of Sector 1 to Teldhala area north of Bakhshiganj, Jamalpur, soon after the war broke.
The secret militia's known as personal Bahinis (Bengali: বাহিনী) were actually among the three notorious murderous militia units during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, funded, equiped and operated under the tacit support and guidance of the Indian RAW's para-military unit the SFF led by Major General Sujat Singh Uban.
Hemayet Uddin, Kader Siddique, who was known as the ('Buther') led small but furious teams with so much influence that the forces took the forces under their names, Kaderiya Bahini or the Force of Kader and Hemayet Bahini.
The Forces and Areas - In 1971, Kader's militia tortured, murdered and looted properties of innocent civilians and freedom fighters in the Tangail Area similar to Hemayet Bahini in the Faridpur areas. His forces started killing freedom fighters and innocent peasant land owners which led to genocide and rape without any border. At that time, the young dacoits and delinquents took part in such overt and illegal activities and blamed it conveniently on Pakistan army. The main force which was Mujib Bahini, led by Tofael, Razzak, Moni and Rezaul worked in other limited areas away from main Bangladesh Forces, and Hemayet Bahini in Faridpur zone under Hemayet Uddin. Mujib Bahini which was organized and trained for similar activities also received direct training and active assistance of Major General Uban of the Indian Army.
Activities - These groups carried out many under ground criminally overt operations in Tangail and Faridpur regions. Along with the other notorious force Mujib Bahini, the three illegal terrorist militia's principle operations consisted of infilitrating bonafide freedom fighter groups, mass murder of them and their families including of innocent civilians, loot of land and property and rapes.
Abolition - At the end of the war, on 16 December 1971, Kaderia Bahini's forces along with Uban's Mujib Bahini, and Hemayet Bahini entered Dhaka with the Indian forces, clad with ammunitions and weapons signalling the end of the war. They continued conducting mass killing of freedom fighters, looting of properties and wealth even after the end of the war in many parts of the country and assisted Indian Army in doing the same while exiting through the borders from December to March 1972.
A special element of the SFF force, mostly Tibetan's were sent to Mizoram in late November 1971. This Task Force was deployed and conducted pre-emptive strike operations in support of the Indian army formations along the Chittagong Hill Tracts. For the small Bangladeshi campaign, designated Operation Mountain Eagle, the SFF members were issued Bulgarian AK-47's and US carbines. SFF conducted several mission, including the destruction of the Kaptai Dam and other bridges. They also halted members of the Pakistani 97 Independent Brigade and of the 2nd Commando Battalion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. This operation saw the first Dapon, Tibet an equivalent of a Brigadier General to command part of the SFF Task Force. By the time Pakistan surrendered, the SFF had lost 56 men -- nearly 190 were wounded -- but they blocked a potential escape route for Pakistani forces into Burma.
With the Pakistani Lt. General A.A.K. Niazi signing the ceasefire on 16th December 1971, the SFF had engaged in looting, murder and confiscating of property of Bangladesh and vital historical artifacts and documents pretaining to the war. The Indian government gave cash awards to 58 operatives of the SFF for their under cover conduct during the Bangladeshi campaign.
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 Ansars and Village Defense Parties Organization 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 United Nation Peace Keeping 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.[4] With 9677 troops deployed, it ranks second in personnel contributions to UN peacekeeping.[5] 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 Armed Forces War Course 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
- Bangladesh Army (Sena Bahini)
- Bangladesh Navy (Nou Bahini)
- Bangladesh Air Force (Biman Bahini)
Para-military Forces & Reserves
- Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)
- Bangladesh Coast Guard
- Bangladesh National Cadet Corps ( BNCC )
- Bangladesh Ansars
- Village Defence Party
Specialized Forces
- Special Security Force (SSF) - Prime Ministers Office
- Presidents Guard Regiment (PGR) - Banga Bhaban
- Para-commandos - Bangladesh Army (Assigned to Paratrooper Battalion of EBR & BIR)
- Rapid Action Battalion - Ministry of Home Affairs
- Special Warfare Diving And Salvage (SWADS) - Bangladesh Navy
Military districts
Dhaka Cantonment
- HQ All Military Lands
- HQ Cantonment Boards
- HQ's of Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy & Bangladesh Air Force
- HQ's Armed Forces Medical and Nursing Corps (AFMNC)
- HQ's Armed Forces Recruiting Centre (AFRC)
- HQ's Cantonment Public Schools
- HQ's Armed Forces Library
- Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Testing (AFIPT)
- National Armed Forces Cemetery
Educational and Training Institutes
- Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA), Bhatiary, Chittagong
- School of Infantry and Tactics (SI&T), Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet.
- Defense Services Command and Staff College (DSC&SC), Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka.
- National Defence College (NDC), Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka.
- Military Institute of Science & Technology (MIST), Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka.
- Armoured Corps Center & School (ACC&S), Jahangirabad Cantonment, Bogra.
- Engineer Centre and School of Military Engineering, Quadirabad Cantonment, Natore.
- Signal Training Centre and School, Jessore Cantonment, Jessore.
- Army Service Corp Center & School, Jahanabad Cantonment, Khulna.
- Army Medical Corps Center & School, Shaheed Salahuddin Cantonment,Ghatail, Tangail.
- Ordnance Corps Centre & School, Rajendrapur Cantonment, Gazipur
- Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT), Rajendrapur Cantonment, Gazipur.
- Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Centre and School, Saidpur Cantonment, Nilphamari.
- Corps of Military Police Centre and School, Shahid Salahuddin Cantonment, Ghatail, Tangail.
- Army School of Education and Administration, Shahid Salahuddin Cantonment,Ghatail, Tangail.
- Army School of Physical Training and Sports (ASPTS), Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka.
- Army School of Music, Chittagong Cantonment, Chittagong.
- Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka.
- Artillery Center and School, Halishahar, Chittagong.
- School of Military Intelligence, Moynamoti Cantonment, Comilla.
- East Bengal Regimental Center, Chittagong Cantonment, Chittagong.
- Bangladesh Infantry Regimental Center, Rajshahi Cantonment, Rajshahi.
- Non Commissioned Officers Academy, Jahangirabad Cantonment, Bogra.
- Bangladesh University Of Professionals(BUP), Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka.
- Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC), Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka.
Training Institutes of Bangladesh Air Force
- Bangladesh Air Force Academy (BAFA), Jessore.
- Flying Instructors School (FIS), Bogra.
- Command and Staff Training Institute (CSTI), Dhaka.
- Flight Safety Institute (FSI), Dhaka.
- Officers' Training School (OTS), Jessore.
- Aero-Medical Institute (AMI), Dhaka.
- Fighter Controller Training Unit (FCTU), Dhaka.
- School of Physical Fitness (SOPF), Dhaka.
- Recruits Training School (RTS), Chittagong.
- Training Wing (TW), Chittagong.
- Mechanical Transport Driving School (MTDS), Shamsher Nagar.
Cantonments
- Bandarban Cantonment (Chittagong Hill Tracts)
- Chittagong Cantonment (Chittagong)
- Dhaka Cantonment (Dhaka)
- Jahanabad Cantonment (Khulna)
- Jahangirabad Cantonment (Bogra)
- Jalalabad Cantonment (Sylhet)
- Jessore Cantonment (Jessore)
- Khagrachari Cantonment (Chittagong Hill Tracts)
- Mirpur Cantonment (Mirpur)
- Moynamoti Cantonment (Comilla)
- Mymensingh Cantonment (Mymensingh)
- Quadirabad Cantonment (Natore)
- Rajendrapur Cantonment (Gazipur)
- Rajshahi Cantonment (Rajshahi)
- Rangamati Cantonment (Chittagong Hill Tracts)
- Rangpur Cantonment (Rangpur)
- Syedpur Cantonment (Syedpur)
- Savar Cantonment (Savar)
- Shahid Salahuddin Cantonment (Ghatail)
See also
References
- ^ http://www.mha.gov.bd/
- ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/suppliments/2004/victory_day/vic02.htm
- ^ http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/982445
- ^ UN Mission's Summary detailed by Country, Monthly Summary of Contributors of Military and Civilian Police Personnel, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations, 2007-5-31
- ^ Ranking of Military and Police Contributions to UN Operations, Monthly Summary of Contributors of Military and Civilian Police Personnel, Department of Peacekeeping Operations, United Nations, 2007-5-31