Bangladesh Military Thread

[eastwatch]

Dhaka can buy naval ships from Seoul: Korea

Dhaka can buy naval ships from Seoul: Korea
11/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

DHAKA: Bangladesh and South Korea are in negotiations to purchase naval brigades from Seoul, South Korean ambassador Tai-young Cho disclosed in Dhaka Monday.

‘There are some discussions between the defence ministries to buy more naval ships from Korea… They have not yet reached any conclusion,’ he said at a meet the reporters programme at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

The ambassador said Bangladesh purchased a navy brigade from South Korea in 2000. ‘I like to see dynamic exchanges in the field of defence between the two countries,’ he told a questioner.
Asked about the volume of defence purchase from Seoul, the ambassador did not give any precise figure, saying: ‘I guess it’s not big.’

Asked about cooperation in the oil and gas sector, he said a Korean and an American company formed a consortium with Petrobangla and began exploration in the Bay of Bengal mainly to find gas. ‘They are optimistic that they will find something,’ he said.

About recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for South Korea, he said the recruitment quota for Bangladesh had been increased to 4,400 this year against 3,800 last year. This year some 1,850 low-skilled workers entered Korea against last year’s number of 752.
Replying to a question the ambassador, however, admitted that lack of popularity of Bangladeshi workers among Korean companies fails to fulfil the annual quota for Bangladesh.

Asked about the reasons behind the lack of popularity, he said the Bangladeshi workers frequently shift their places of work for better pay, which causes unhappiness among the Korean companies. Besides, he said there was tough competition among the labour sending countries.

Cho said the Korean government could increase the quota but recruitment depends on the choice of the Korean companies. ‘To increase the number you need to increase the popularity of the workers,’ he noted.

Besides, he said some job seekers’ illegal act of appearing for computer-based test with false ID cards and activity of brokers became a hurdle to the successful implementation of the Employment Permit System in Bangladesh.

The ambassador said going to Korea with false ID is a grave concern for Korea in terms of their national security. He expected that the Bangladesh government will crackdown on brokers of false ID cards.
Cho, however, said the Korean government was planning to undertake a project to train medical nurses here in response to a request made by the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, during her visit to Seoul in May this year.

Asked about Korean investment, the ambassador said the Korean investors mainly focus on the garment sector, but his impression was that the Korean companies like to expand their investment to power generation including solar energy, small size ship building and the rice processing industry.

In 2009 total trade was $1,186 million of which Korea’s export to Bangladesh was $1064 million and import was only $122 million.
Replying to a question, Cho said recently two business delegations visited Bangladesh to invest here and buy more from Bangladesh. Presently, 85 per cent of Bangladeshi products enjoy duty and quota free access to the Korean market and negotiations are on to allow the duty and quota free access for the remaining 15 per cent.

Korea so far invested more than $1 billion in Bangladesh, apart from providing $410 million as soft loans under EDCF till March 2010.
Besides, $36 million was provided as grant for Bangladesh from 1991 to 2009. He said Korean aid for Bangladesh will be increased next year.

DRU president Shamim Ahmad chaired the press interactions while its general secretary Pathik Saha made introductory remarks.

 

[akash57]

US to provide training to BAF

Dhaka, Nov 9 (bdnews24.com)– The United States of America will be providing technical aid and training to the Bangladesh Armed Forces.

Gary L North, commander of Pacific Air Forces, expressed his country's interest in this regard while meeting the prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday at her office, Hasina's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters.

Azad said North had commended the role of members of the armed forces in different UN peace keeping missions. North had also admired Hasina's interest and role in establishing world peace.

Azad said that the prime minister recalled the role the US forces played during several natural disasters in Bangladesh. She said that thousands of people had died during the devastating cyclone of April 29, 1991. The then incumbent BNP government failed miserably to control the situation and the US marine forces during that crucial period came forward to help the distressed people.

The US played a similar role during cyclone Sidr that hit the southern part of the country in 2007, said the prime minister.

Hasina said that US forces' help to Bangladesh has strengthened the already cordial relations existing between the two countries.

US ambassador James F Moriarty, and secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Mollah Wahiduzzaman were also present at the meeting.

US to provide training to BAF | Bangladesh | bdnews24.com

 

[bd_4_ever]

Dhaka can buy naval ships from Seoul: Korea

Dhaka can buy naval ships from Seoul: Korea
11/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

DHAKA: Bangladesh and South Korea are in negotiations to purchase naval brigades from Seoul, South Korean ambassador Tai-young Cho disclosed in Dhaka Monday.

‘There are some discussions between the defence ministries to buy more naval ships from Korea… They have not yet reached any conclusion,’ he said at a meet the reporters programme at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

The ambassador said Bangladesh purchased a navy brigade from South Korea in 2000. ‘I like to see dynamic exchanges in the field of defence between the two countries,’ he told a questioner.
Asked about the volume of defence purchase from Seoul, the ambassador did not give any precise figure, saying: ‘I guess it’s not big.’

Asked about cooperation in the oil and gas sector, he said a Korean and an American company formed a consortium with Petrobangla and began exploration in the Bay of Bengal mainly to find gas. ‘They are optimistic that they will find something,’ he said.

About recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for South Korea, he said the recruitment quota for Bangladesh had been increased to 4,400 this year against 3,800 last year. This year some 1,850 low-skilled workers entered Korea against last year’s number of 752.
Replying to a question the ambassador, however, admitted that lack of popularity of Bangladeshi workers among Korean companies fails to fulfil the annual quota for Bangladesh.

Asked about the reasons behind the lack of popularity, he said the Bangladeshi workers frequently shift their places of work for better pay, which causes unhappiness among the Korean companies. Besides, he said there was tough competition among the labour sending countries.

Cho said the Korean government could increase the quota but recruitment depends on the choice of the Korean companies. ‘To increase the number you need to increase the popularity of the workers,’ he noted.

Besides, he said some job seekers’ illegal act of appearing for computer-based test with false ID cards and activity of brokers became a hurdle to the successful implementation of the Employment Permit System in Bangladesh.

The ambassador said going to Korea with false ID is a grave concern for Korea in terms of their national security. He expected that the Bangladesh government will crackdown on brokers of false ID cards.
Cho, however, said the Korean government was planning to undertake a project to train medical nurses here in response to a request made by the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, during her visit to Seoul in May this year.

Asked about Korean investment, the ambassador said the Korean investors mainly focus on the garment sector, but his impression was that the Korean companies like to expand their investment to power generation including solar energy, small size ship building and the rice processing industry.

In 2009 total trade was $1,186 million of which Korea’s export to Bangladesh was $1064 million and import was only $122 million.
Replying to a question, Cho said recently two business delegations visited Bangladesh to invest here and buy more from Bangladesh. Presently, 85 per cent of Bangladeshi products enjoy duty and quota free access to the Korean market and negotiations are on to allow the duty and quota free access for the remaining 15 per cent.

Korea so far invested more than $1 billion in Bangladesh, apart from providing $410 million as soft loans under EDCF till March 2010.
Besides, $36 million was provided as grant for Bangladesh from 1991 to 2009. He said Korean aid for Bangladesh will be increased next year.

DRU president Shamim Ahmad chaired the press interactions while its general secretary Pathik Saha made introductory remarks.

Any ideas what those ships could be....?? Will it again be the ones we bought in 2001....??


Cheers!!!

 

[eastwatch]

Gary calls on Army, Navy Chiefs

Commander of US Air Force, Pacific (COMPACAF) General Gary L North paid a courtesy call on Chief of Army Staff General Md Abdul Mubeen at Army Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment Tuesday, said an ISPR release.

During the meeting, they discussed matters relating to professional interest.

Later, General Gary paid a courtesy call on Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral ZU Ahmed at Naval Headquarters.

He spent sometime with the Navy Chief and exchanged greetings and discussed various issues relating to professional interest.

Earlier, General Gary called on Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Abdul Wadud at Armed Forces Division (AFD) in Dhaka Cantonment.

He remained with the PSO of AFD for sometime and discussed matters of mutual interest.

Later, General Gary visited BAF Base Kurmitola where he witnessed static display of different aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force.

In the afternoon, General Gary with his entourage left Dhaka ending his three-day visit to Bangladesh.

Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations and Training) Air Vice Marshal Abu Esrar saw him off at BAF Tarmac, Kurmitola.

 

[akash57]

A bit old..

Bangla army team in Jorhat

Jorhat, Nov. 4: A team of Bangladesh army officers arrived at an army base here today to carry out a joint exercise with the Indian Army.

Sources in the army told The Telegraph that a 23-member team from the Bangladesh army, led by an army officer, arrived in Calcutta yesterday and a part of the team reached Jorhat today.

The joint exercise will include parachute jumping, small team activities and special operations using helicopters.

The main objective of the joint exercise is to establish goodwill and mutual cooperation between the armies of the two neighbouring countries.

A unit of the para commandos, a special operation unit of the Indian Army based at Rowriah, will also take part in the exercise.

The joint exercise, to be held for the first time, assumes significance as it takes place at a time when Bangladesh carried out a massive crackdown on cadres of militant outfits of the Northeast who had taken refuge in the country.

Bangladesh, in recent times, have handed over top leaders of Ulfa, National Democratic front of Boroland (NDFB) and several Manipur-based militant outfits to the Indian authorities.

The arrival of the Bangladesh team in Jorhat has been rather quiet, as the district and police administration were totally in the dark about the development. “I am not aware of such a development,” Jorhat deputy commissioner R.C. Jain said.

Train timings

The Northeast Frontier Railways on Thursday said the 0554 special train from Guwahati to Lokmanya Tilak terminus in Mumbai would be extended for two more trips on November 11 and 18. Accordingly, the 0553 special train from Lokmanya Tilak terminus to Guwahati will also be extended on September 14 and 21.

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Northeast | Bangla army team in Jorhat

---------- Post added at 03:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 PM ----------

Also a bit old..

China keen on military aid

China is keen to provide further support and cooperation to the country's military sector, especially for the development of Bangladesh Navy.

The keenness was conveyed when a delegation from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, led by Rear Admiral Wang Zhiguo, called on President Zillur Rahman at Bangabhaban yesterday.

During the meeting, the Chinese delegation mentioned Bangladesh's important geographical position in South Asia.

“China expects development of Bangladesh for its own development,” said Wang.

He said China is interested to provide military assistance to Bangladesh, especially to the Navy.

Welcoming the delegation, Zillur said China is a tested friend of Bangladesh.

He recalled that after the war, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had expressed the willingness to visit China first.

Describing the tremendous economic growth of China as a miracle, the president mentioned that China's GDP growth is increasing rapidly and very soon it is going to be an economic super power.

“We need more and more cooperation from China,” he said.

Quoting Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), the president said the holy Prophet had advised people to go as far as China in search of knowledge.

China keen on military aid

 

[monitor]

another old but important article
NAVY TO BECOME 3-DIMENSIONAL FORCE

Our marine boundary and resources need vigorous defence

Sadeq Khan

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in course of her visit to the Naval Headquarters on 11 April, talked about the government's mega plan for building Bangladesh Navy as a deterrent, 3-dimensional force by 2021.
The Prime Minister said that during her recent China visit, she had requested the Chinese government to provide Bangladesh Naval Force with two newly constructed frigates equipped with helicopter and the Chinese government agreed. She disclosed that agreement has already been signed to buy two helicopters and missiles while the process of procuring two offshore patrol vessels from the United Kingdom is in the final stage. Work is in progress to procure a Hydrographical Survey Vessel from UK and process is underway in China to equip two Large Patrol Craft with missiles.
Besides, the government is trying to procure maritime patrol aircrafts, modernize four missile boats and two patrol aircrafts by adding missiles, develop special naval force SWADS (the Navy's fleet air system) by installing surface to air missiles and air defence system.
These plans and programmes will be implemented by 2012. "We also have a plan to equip our Navy with submarines having base facilities to build it as a deterrent force by 2019, she pointed out."
Within this time, the government will take all necessary steps for setting up the naval force's own air base, jetty for ship berthing, training school, and accommodation facilities for officers and sailors, she said. The plan, which has been chalked out for modernization of the Navy, will "turn the navy into a three-dimensional force by 2021."

Maritime boundary
It is a timely step in the right direction. Our muddy water coast guards are hard-pressed in simply combating off-shore piracy and illicit traffic along the coastline. Our naval vessels are good for defensive actions around our territorial waters, but not sufficiently equipped to engage in defence and deterrence from forward positions in the deep sea. Being an active delta with formative coastline and many nautical miles of shallow continental shelf, and with Bengal Sea Fan formed by discharge of silt from our rivers extending far under the sea-bed of the Bay of Bengal, we have the natural right on rich marine resources, to be claimed under the present UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and under future dispensations of marine exploration.
We have to protect that right, as we have to protect our sovereignty over South Talpatti. Our Foreign Secretary made it clear at the fortnightly press briefing of the Foreign Office on April 10: "Bangladesh, according to the map prepared on the basis of the Radcliff Award, asserts its sovereignty over South Talpatti, a submerged island in the eastern side of the mid-channel of the bordering river of Hariabhanga.
According to the Radcliff Plan, the riverside demarcation line between the two countries is the deepest part of the riverbed. Two streams of the river flow by two sides of the submerged islands under formation. The main stream is the western one, so the island belongs to Bangladesh. It was named 'South Talpatti' since there is a northern Talpatti along the same longitude. India disputed the position of the mainstream of the bordering river Hariabhanga, and staked a claim South Talpatti, calling it New Moore island.
With regard to marine boundary, Bangladesh government has completed seismic survey that was essential for putting forward Bangladesh's claim over the Bay of Bengal to the UN authorities. 'We will duly submit our claim with the UNCLCS by July 2011,' Foreign Secretary said.
South Talpatti is considered as a low tide elevation, meaning it goes underwater at the times of tide. For last the 10-12 years, it has not appeared on the surface. As it remains under water, no military installation or flag of any country is there. Dhaka made the claim on South Talpatti in 1980 during the then government of President Ziaur Rahman. The issue became dormant when HM Ershad was president."
Of late the Indian media carried prejudicial reports that as the island is not surfacing over a number of years, the dispute has naturally become anfractuous. The Foreign Office press briefing is an unambiguous assertion that Bangladesh is sticking to its claim on the submerged island.
Exploration of hydrocarbon in our territorial waters by intending production-sharing concessionaires are also being hampered by objections from India and Myanmar on outdated claims of equidistance of maritime boundary from respective shores. By negotiations and also in arbitration proceedings under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, we have made some progress with Myanmar. But little progress has been made in negotiations with India whose marine boundary claims based on "equidistance theory" virtually sandwiches our territorial waters from Andaman islands on the one side and West Bengal-Orissa coast on the other.

PM's security
We clearly have a lot to defend in the Bay of Bengal, and the government's decision to strengthen the navy and develop submarine deterrence capacity is correct step. Some other reports in the foreign media, however, suggest that Prime Minister may have been prompted to also undertake a balancing act of geopolitical "equidistance theory." A report appearing in the Times of India News Network by Jayanta Gupta from Kolkata reads:
"Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina may soon get the kind of security cover provided to top-notch VVIPs in India like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. According to sources in Dhaka, a group of young people have been handpicked to receive training at the National Security Guard (NSG) set-up at Manesar, Haryana. These commandos, once trained, will form the inner cordon of Hasina's security.
Officials in Delhi did not confirm or deny, but said the NSG does provide training to personnel from friendly countries.
What seems to have prompted this move is the growing concern over Hasina's security. It has been revealed that on one occasion in 2009, the Bangladeshi PM had to spend a few hours withouta single security personnel around her. Hasina then had to make a desperate call to the Bangladeshi president, before a security detail reached her official residence.
'In the last few months, Hasina has announced in her public meetings that there are elements within her own country who would like to overthrow her elected government. This would certainly involve an assasination attempt on her. India wants stability in the region and would like a democratically elected government to be in place in Bangladesh. An attempt on Hasina's life may even take place when she is on official visits to other countries. It is only justified that India shows concern about her security,' an official in Delhi said. ....
It is already a known fact that India and Bangladesh have inked defence ties which involves training of Bangladesh Army personnel at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School in Vairangte, Mizoram. Defence officials said Bangladesh is keen to revamp its security network to tackle terror strikes, assassination bids and urban warfare scenarios. India has agreed to provide all support to ensure peace and stability in the neighbourhood."
Commonsense suggests that foreign training may equip our VIP security outfits with better skills, but not with essential loyalty. Balancing act in diplomatic overtures is all right, but it may prove risky in matters of national security. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Meanwhile Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to send two warships, BNS Osman and BNS Madhumati to the UN Peacekeeping Mission, UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). The warships left Chittagong seaport for Lebanon on April 12. Three cheers to our Navy. Three cheers to our naval peace-keepers.

 

[monitor]

INDO-CHINA RIVALRY INTENSIFIES

Time to redraw nation's defence strategy

M. Shahidul Islam

A number of glaring testimonies of looming military danger make it incumbent upon our defence policy makers to update the nation's war book, or re-write a new one altogether in light of the intensified Indo-Chinese rivalry and the Indian distinctive strategic alliance with the USA.
The security ambiance of the region plunged deeper into a danger zone lately with reports in the US and the Indian media of Islamabad's handing over of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of the Pakistan-administered Kashmir to China and China's deployment of 11,000 troops in that region.
Coupled with other recent geopolitical developments, these reports indicate the re-shaping of the regional strategic landscape and of Delhi's dogged determination to challenge Beijing's pre-eminence in regional and global politics, with help from Bangladesh.
Besides, the intensified Indo-Chinese tension seriously undercuts efforts by people of India, China and Russia for greater regional collaborations; despite the foreign ministers of the three nations slated to meet in Bangalore on October 26-27.

Denial unheeded
Reacting to the reports that started to make headlines in late August, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Jiang Yu said on September 2, "We believe these attempts of some people to fabricate stories to provoke China-Pakistan or China-India relations are doomed to fail."
Pakistan too issued similar rebuttal. A Pakistani Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit, strongly denied the news being circulated in the American and Indian media and said on August 31, "The Chinese were working on landslide, flood hit areas and on the destroyed Korakoram Highway with the permission of Pakistani Government."
All such denials did little, however, to assuage


Indian concerns. India's ambassador to China, S. Jaishankar, met with the Chinese vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zhang Zhijun, on September 3 in Beijing and conveyed New Delhi's concern over the presence of Chinese troops in Gilgit-Baltistan. India also further reinforced its military capability along the 2,521 mile China-India borders.

Historical animosity
Although a recent New York Time report had linked the Chinese military presence in Kashmir to China's plans to gain a "grip on the strategic area to ensure unfettered road and rail access to the Gulf through Pakistan," the animosity is rooted in historic claims and counter claims made by the two nuclear armed neighbours on each other's territories. The New York Times report said there were two important new developments in Gilgit-Baltistan; a simmering rebellion against the Pakistani rule and the influx of an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the area.
In reality, these reports are tied with recent Indian war preparation and entrenchment of military capability along mutual borders on which the two nations had fought a brief but bloody war in 1962.
The border dispute dates back to 1914 when the colonial Britain hosted a conference with the Chinese and the Tibetan governments to demarcate the Tibetan border along the so called McMahon line. China never recognised the McMahon Line and claims 90,000 sq km, nearly all of what India now calls Arunachal Pradesh (about 2000 sq kms), its own territory. Besides, India accuses China of occupying 8,000 sq km of its territory in Kashmir.
The latest spark also emanated from Delhi's upping the ante on August 26 following Beijing's refusal to grant a visa to Indian army's Northern Command Chief, Lt. Gen. BS Jaswal, to visit Beijing as an Indian military delegation member, saying the officer oversees Jammu and Kashmir which 'is a disputed area.'
The incident left Delhi snubbed, insulted and injured; more so when Beijing asked to replace Lt. Gen. Jaswal, something India refused to comply and ordered instead a demarche by cancelling a scheduled visit by a Chinese military delegation to India's National Defence College. Delhi also ordered cancellation of another scheduled visit by Indian military officials to China.

Offensive postures
The ongoing rivalry may end up with another war, according to many analysts. Since 2007, India has been aggressively racing to match China for regional and global power, building and bolstering airstrips and army outposts along the common borders and rebuilding run-down roads and infrastructures. In June 2009, it started building a tunnel to bypass the virtually impassable Rohtang Pass to ensure all-weather access to Ladakh, which abuts the Tibetan Plateau.
Coupled with recent procurement of huge state-of-the-art military hardware and Delhi's strategic alliance with the USA, these moves kept Beijing busy in shoring up its own deficiencies, tactically and strategically, while Delhi replaced its 'cold start' strategy with an aggressive doctrine to confront both China and Pakistan simultaneously. These bellicose postures are heading toward the outbreak of another major war among the two regional giants.
Besides defending the sovereignty of the Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi wants to recover the Chinese-administered Aksai Chin, which India claims as part of its territory. Along the Kashmir frontier, north of Ladakh stands the disputed Siachen Glacier, an ice-capped river basin that had provoked both India and Pakistan to claiming and fighting over, almost frequently since the 1980s. Both India and Pakistan maintain military outposts on the 20,000 feet high altitude of the Siachen's glacier- capped ranges.

Bangladesh's concern
Having lost Tibet to China in 1959, India took over Sikkim's sovereignty in 1975, but the predicament posed by the Siliguri Corridor in West Bengal, with an average width of 21 km to 40 km only, in connecting the north eastern region with the Indian mainland could not be reconciled as yet. That is what makes Bangladesh an integral part of the Indian and the Chinese defence priorities and makes it extremely difficult for Dhaka to maintain either a neutral stance, or align militarily with either of the protagonists.
It also gives birth to a cliché, if not a strategic doctrine, that "He who controls Bangladesh will control north east India," making Bangladesh susceptible to pre-emptive military invasion by either of the protagonists.
Geopolitically, China has two major claims over territories that India claims to be its own. The claim in the western sector involves Aksai Chin in the northeastern Ladakh District in Jammu and Kashmir. The eastern sector claim involves the territory belonging to the British era North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) abutting Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar; including the Tibetan-Naga-inhabited Arunachal Pradesh which Delhi has turned into its 24th state on 20th February, 1987.
These lands were fought over before. During the 1962 Indo-China war, the well-trained and well-armed PLA troops overpowered the ill-equipped Indian troops, who found themselves not properly acclimatized to fight at high altitudes. Following initial setbacks, Indian troops desperately sought to regroup and the Indian army strengthened its defensive positions in the NEFA and Ladakh to repulse possible Chinese attacks through Sikkim and Bhutan.
The Indian attempt failed and the war reached close to Bangladesh frontiers (then East Pakistan), despite many Indian army units having moved from Calcutta, Bihar, Nagaland, and Punjab to guard the northern frontiers of West Bengal and Assam. The western NEFA witnessed deployment of three Indian brigades while two other brigades were deployed in Sikkim and the West Bengal border with Bhutan. Light Stuart tanks were drawn from the Eastern Command headquarters at Calcutta to bolster such deployments.
Yet, an unrelenting Chinese onslaught wiped out virtually all Indian resistance in Kameng and, by November 18, the PLA had penetrated close to the outskirts of Tezpur, Assam, a major frontier town within the artillery range from Bangladesh and barely 50 kilometres from the Assam-NEFA border. Sensing Indian helplessness, China declared a unilateral ceasefire on November 21. Beijing also respected the McMahan line and withdrew troops beyond what it regards as 'unaccepted' Line of Actual Control (LoAC).

The big picture
There are those who blame the USA for the latest escalation in tension and military preparedness in Asia. They say the US department of defence annual report's claim that 'the pace and scope of China's military modernisation have increased over the past decade' has scared Delhi. The report cautioned that 'extreme secrecy is increasingly difficult to reconcile with China's role in the integrated global economy, which depends on transparency.'
That is perhaps part of the story. Beijing's quest for access to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf regions for much needed energy resources lay at the centre of its alliance making in the region, although the Indian story is rooted more in geopolitical quest for land.
Although other intelligence reports indicate Beijing is constructing over 22 tunnel and a rail link between Pakistan administered Kashmir and China, and further extending the Karakoram Highway that connects China's Muslim predominant Xinjiang province with Pakistan, the tunnel construction is related to a projected gas pipeline from Iran to China that would cross the Karakorams through Gilgit. India, however, fears they could be also used for missiles storage sites.
They plausibly could, but such Indian fear is grossly misplaced. Given that Beijing has financed the construction of Pakistani naval bases at Gawadar, Pasni and Ormara in Balochistan, such connectivity aims mainly at transporting cargo and oil from the Persian Gulf to eastern China within 48 hours.
While those could be least of our concerns, Bangladesh must prepare not to get overrun by any of the contending armies of the region in the instance push come to shove. That is why it must devise a full spectrum defence capability of its own as a sovereign nation state of 150 million strong.

 

[akash57]

Armed Forces Day today

The Armed Forces Day will be observed today with due solemnity and festivity.

The day's programme will begin with the offering of munajat after the Fazr prayers in all the mosques at Army garrisons, Naval bases and establishments as well as Air Force bases throughout the country seeking divine blessings for the well-being and prosperity of the nation, development and progress of the Armed Forces, an ISPR press release said.

On the occasion of Armed Forces Day, President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Md Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister and also Defence Minister Sheikh Hasina will place floral wreaths at the Shikha Anirban at Dhaka Cantonment in the morning to pay homage to the members of the Armed Forces who had embraced martyrdom in the Liberation War in 1971.

Immediately after then, Chief of Army Staff General Md Abdul Mubeen, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Z U Ahmed and on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff the Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Admin) Air Vice Marshal Md Enamul Bari will also lay floral wreaths at the Shikha Anirban.

The Armed Forces chiefs will pay courtesy call on the president at the Bangabhaban and the premier at the Armed Forces Division (AFD) at Dhaka Cantonment.

On the occasion of Armed Forces Day, the PM will also host a reception and meet the members of martyred families of the Bir Shresthos and other selected gallantry award holder freedom fighters at the AFD at Dhaka Cantonment.

In the afternoon, she will host a reception at the Sena Kunja at Dhaka Cantonment to commemorate the day.

Besides, the Armed Forces chiefs will also accord receptions to the members of the shaheed families, award winning and retired freedom fighters of their respective services. Receptions will also be held at other cantonments.

Meanwhile, programmes have also been chalked-out to celebrate the august day in a befitting manner in all army garrisons, naval ships and establishment and air force bases throughout the country.

Bangladesh Navy ships will remain open to visitors from 2:00pm to 4:30pm in Dhaka (Sadarghat), Narayanganj, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Mongla.

The national dailies are bringing out special supplements in observance of the day. Besides, essay, art and quiz competition will be arranged at educational institutions of the armed forces.

President Md Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have given separate messages on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day.

In a message, the president expressed the hope that members of the Armed Forces would contribute to nation building alongside performing their professional duties for building a prosperous Bangladesh.

"Independence is ours greatest achievement. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is the architect of this independence. He proclaimed independence on March 26," he said.

On this day in 1971, the Armed Forces of Bangladesh launched combined attack against the occupation forces. "As a result, our victory was accelerated," he added.

In a separate message, the PM said the present government is working sincerely for modernisation of the armed forces.

During the War of Liberation led by Awami League government on this day in 1971, patriotic people, Muktibahini, the armed forces and different paramilitary forces launched combined attacks against the occupation forces in the Liberation War, she added.

Armed Forces Day today

 

[bd_4_ever]

^^ i am looking forward to some new videos and pics....if possible please post....

And wishing my country's men a brave and prosperous life, serving for us....


Cheers!!!

 

[Raquib]

We've already purchased 140 APCs. Does any1 know what they are and what Tanks are we going for?

 

[leonblack08]

APCs are perhaps Chinese ZFB05.

Originally posted by Fatman sir

Bangladesh outlines military equipment procurement plans.

Jon Grevatt Jane's Asia-Pacific Industry Reporter - Bangkok

Key Points
Bangladesh has outlined its military modernisation plans

The acquisition of Chinese-made equipment is likely to follow

The government of Bangladesh has outlined a plan to procure a wide range of military equipment as it looks to secure its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and reinforce UN peacekeeping efforts.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a speech to mark Bangladesh Armed Forces Day on 21 November that "processes are under way" to procure "sophisticated tanks", self-propelled artillery, air defence missile systems, fighter aircraft and helicopters.

Hasina added that such acquisitions - the details of which were not revealed - will follow the purchase of 140 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), which was completed, she said, after the government assumed office for a second term in 2009.

In addition, Hasina indicated that the government is investing in enhancing the armed forces capabilities through training and the installation of improved facilities.

In a statement, Hasina said: "The government will take measures - including imparting sophisticated training to the armed forces along with providing them modern equipment - so that Bangladesh [can] send more peacekeepers to UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions ... and make [an] immense contribution to protect the country." She added: "Work has already been started to set up an advanced airbase in Cox's Bazar to keep constant watch on the Bay of Bengal."

Although Bangladesh continues to face a range of security threats - including non-traditional threats, such as piracy - and natural disasters, the country is increasingly in competition for energy resources in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh has identified substantial unexploited offshore oil and gas reserves inside this area and has often accused neighbours Myanmar and India of infringement. In 2008, for instance, Bangladesh accused Myanmar of sending six vessels (two of them naval) into the EEZ, prompting a stand-off.

Given these energy reserves, it is no coincidence that China has emerged as Bangladesh's most important supplier of materiel and it is likely that the items outlined by Hasina in her speech will be sourced from Beijing, probably under soft financial terms or through military aid. The access to such funds will be vital to the acquisitions as Bangladesh's defence budget totals just USD1.5 billion.

For example, over the past few years China's Shaanxi Baoji Special Vehicles Manufacturing has supplied the 4x4 ZFB05 light APC to Bangladesh with money on loan from Beijing, while in late 2009 the company told Jane's that it was in discussions with Dhaka over the sale of additional platforms.

In 2007 China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry supplied 12 F-7BG fighters and four FT-7BG two-seaters to the Bangladesh Air Force and is thought to be in discussion over the potential sale of the Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 (FC-1) fighter and the more advanced Chinese J-10 (FC-20).

The Bangladesh Navy is believed to have purchased two Jiangwei II (Type 053H3)-class frigates in recent years, although in 2009 and 2010 it indicated a willingness to look elsewhere for platforms by ordering three former UK Royal Navy platforms: the ex-RN survey ship HMS Roebuck and two ex-RN Castle-class offshore patrol vessels. Two AgustaWestland AW109 twin-turbine light multipurpose helicopters were also ordered.

 

[bd_4_ever]

I like these APCs....this ZFBO5....

I guess army is planning to raise mechanized divisions, for support to infantry....or most probably to the special forces....


Cheers!!!

 

[bd_4_ever]

We've already purchased 140 APCs. Does any1 know what they are and what Tanks are we going for?

No tanks have probably been bought....i guess they are just completed upgrading the old ones....may b new purchase news may come by soon....


Cheers!!!

 

[BritishBangladeshi]

Guys is there any news on the air force, potential aircraft that we might be buying for the future let me know

 

[ProsperBD]

Joi Bangla!