If you support BAL, it's all right you can assert these all because after all it's all happening in their tenure. But if you don't or you do possess a neutral view, I have some points to mention so we can judge the real situation. BAL actually is fortunate on some national achievements which it didn't have any starting role like Jamuna bridge. With our lower class political practice we never utter the name who was actually involved within one achievement at the beginning phase or who dreamed like Bhasani's name almost blurred from scene now.
Now let's have some military assessment starting from our democratic era (!!!) since 91:
1. One important wing of our internal security Coast Guard was planned by BNP probably in 1993.
2. The brand new Ulsan class frigate actually was completely financed by Saudi govt. which got materialized during BAL era and that procurement was not transparent. The finance from Saudi Arabia didn't come all on a sudden, it was on table long before BAL ascended then. Anyway, ultimately it was BAL's achievement as it was inducted on their time.
3. BNP procured probably 2 (or 3) squadrons of F-7 (MB,BG) in their 2 terms. Hasina just did that procuring Mig-29 from Russia which was also not transparent though I like Russian toys...both parties should procure some from Russia. But for sure BNP would procure minimum one squadron from China instead of Russia.
4. In their last term BNP signed the military pact with China and as part of it we see some military achievement during this BAL term. Locally building ship under ToT from China, the aeronautical center (named after Bangabandhu), tanks etc. are part of this (also probably F-7 BGI). Only the nuclear power plant has been moved to Russia but in fact a MoU was also signed before with China.
5. Forces Goal 2020 was a draft initiated by BNP, it was not finalized then. The draft finally got materialized by BAL as Forces Goal 2030 not 20. I don't blame BAL for making it 10 years later because finalization always has obstacles and BNP also would make it so. My point is BAL doesn't initiate a new plan for our military. The recent procurement deal with Russia, China, USA are part of modernization under Forces Goal 2030. Besides, BAL has huge pressure inside military for killing army officers in BDR mutiny and so trying to please military top brass. They can't avoid these procurement deals at their will.
6. The only contribution at planning phase BAL has probably is RAB which BNP never said to us. One RAB type elite force 1st was quoted by Hasina at 97/98 later BNP materialized it though I think BAL didn't have any draft.
7. SWADS was 1st requested to US by Khaleda, later recently it got materialized.
Both BAL, BNP are anti Bangladeshi forces but BAL is at no. 1 position. As for evidence in 2001 border conflict Bangladesh was not in a situation to bow down to india because all bsf beasts' dead bodies were found inside Bangladesh and killing invaders are never a fault. Our Hasina b$stard begged apology to indian prime minister breaking all protocols of history whereas it was supposed to be india who would beg that apology for invading us. Later Khaleda ascending on throne mysteriously sent Major General Fazlur Rahman to forceful retirement and that Padua has been handed over to india.
Simply from planning to materializing it takes longer and BAL's basket gets filled like Hatirjhil project which was actually caretaker's plan. BAL never uttered a single word about who 1st planned it.
Thanks for the elaborate and information-filled post of yours. I almost agree with you in all the points of your post. If BNP really did those things the efforts are praiseworthy. However, talking of a project without a proper planning and schedule is also meaningless. BNP did many such things in its tenure, and AL's SHW has been doing similar things for the last four years. She wakes up in the morning, calls the journalists and talk about her hundreds of dreams that never materialize.
Similarly, BNP said something that it did not plan properly. AL came to power and hijacked all those concepts and claimed them as its own. However, you must agree that this time AL is inducting military hardwares in two hands from all the sources including China, Russia and USA. AL is regarded as pro-India. There are certain historical reasons to say so. But, you must agree that this time AL has successfully taken away the center of attention from BD-India border to BD-Burma border, sea or land.
Do you think AL or BNP could have procured so much of armaments if it were in conflict with ndia all the time? SHW had to pretend India-friendly to make BD able to induct weapons from non-China sources. I think, it is quite a good diplomacy, and the weapons BD is inducting will certainly be used equally against any bullies, be it Burma or India.
However, I believe that since BD military is getting stronger, therefore, the chances of being ridiculed and bullied are getting slimmer. I only hope BNP does not put moratorium on the purchases of weapons that started in the current AL term. Rather, BNP should do more in both economy and military weapons inductions.