The Bangladesh Army: A Legacy of Courage and Professionalism
Recently Spain’s future queen, Crown Princess Leonor, completed a rigorous three-year military training across the Army, Navy, and Air & Space Force to prepare for her role as Commander-in-Chief.
After this institutional accomplishment, she is now ushering in the next phase of life for the monarchy.
In the era of information and media, above news transmitted with lauding comments worldwide which was shared by many military officers’ communities at home and abroad. In the next phase, reportedly, she will pursue her university education on Political Science.
Many of my students and some children were also curious as to why and how a future queen needed tough military training. I answered in “Military-way”and the gist of my answer was from the Bangladesh Army perspective.
Every sovereign nation relies on several instruments of national power to safeguard its independence, territorial integrity, stability, and development.
These instruments generally include Diplomatic Power, Informational Power, Military Power and Economic Power- in short DIME.
The DIME concept emerged from US National Security and Military Strategic planning during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods.
Military remains one of the most important elements of national power, serving as a symbol of sovereignty, national unity, and constitutional order.
Bangladesh Army emerged from the sacrifices of the general masses during the glorious Liberation War of 1971. Over the decades, as a last resort, the Army has not only defended the country’s sovereignty but has also contributed significantly to nation-building, disaster management, infrastructure development, and international peacekeeping.
Bangladesh Army: A Legacy of Courage and Professionalism
According to the Pakistan Army records concerning officers who participated in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, the most consistently reported fact is that the then Captain Ziaur Rahman (later on Major General and President Ziaur Rahman) served in the Pakistan Army’s East Bengal Regiment and fought on the Khem Karan sector during the War.
The East Bengal Regiment, the predecessor of today’s Bangladesh Army, earned extraordinary recognition during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, receiving the highest gallantry distinctions among infantry formations. This distinguished record demonstrated the courage, discipline, and fighting spirit of Bengali soldiers long before the emergence of independent Bangladesh.
A Stabilizing Force During National Crises
History demonstrates that Bangladesh Army has repeatedly acted as a stabilizing institution during periods of national uncertainty and crises.
The Army’s role during the political transitions and emergencies of 1990-91, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2007-09, and 2024-26 has been widely acknowledged by the citizens as instrumental in maintaining order and preventing further instability.
In many of these periods, political actors and administrative institutions faced significant challenges in resolving crises. The Army, operating under lawful authority and national necessity, often provided critical support to preserve stability, protect lives and property, and facilitate peaceful transitions.
To military personnel, challenging tasks became easy due to rigorous training imbued with institutional values and ethos.
The Foundation of Army Values and Ethos
The strength of the Bangladesh Army lies not merely in weapons or equipment but in its institutional values and ethos that emerged in 2010-12 where I had little contribution.
These values include Honour & Pride, Honesty & Integrity, Loyalty, Patriotism, Faith & Confidence, Respect, Justness, Service Before Self, and Courage. Similarly, the Army’s ethos emphasizes devotion to the country, commitment to the spirit of the Liberation War, adherence to the Constitution, professional excellence, and readiness for supreme sacrifice in defense of the nation.
All members of Bangladesh Army value the spirit of July/August Revolution 2024 where the soldiers supported the people during the critical moment for that the army top leadership must be credited. Otherwise, there could be a great disaster.
We are “People’s Army”
The Bangladesh Army is rightly known as a People’s Army as its strength comes not only from its professionalism and military capability but also from the trust, confidence, and support of the citizens it serves. The enduring partnership between the people and their Army remains essential for building a secure, peaceful, and prosperous Bangladesh.
Therefore, Mao Ze-Dung observed, “An Army will not be strong without the people”. And a professional army becomes empathetic to its people and obliged to societal debt due to tough military training and its institutions.
All trainees are taught first to take care of his peers/comrade (buddy) that symbolically and collectively turn as their own citizens/countrymen/people.
The issue of Spanish Princess Leonor is symbolic and it carries mammoth lessons for developing Bangladesh. All Armies train in the similar theme “Train Hard, Fight Easy”.
Standard of training of our army is very high as it is substituted in our prudence against insurgency problems since 1976, role in the United Nations (UN) and providing training to overseas trainees.
Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) is one of the unique and world class training institutions as I had the opportunity to visit the same of a 1st world army. In the 80s and early 90s officers of Bangladesh Civil Services (BCS) Cadre had to undertake training from BMA.
Later on, reportedly in search of a “comfort zone” it was discontinued and that was one of elements of decay in civil-military relations. Over past decades other eroding factors of military values were caused by socio-political outlook coupled with external influence which was dangerous.
Now time has come to tighten our nooses including revisiting BCS officers for training proper in BMA. Otherwise, further multifaceted disasters are awaiting.
Finally, we all must note that soldiers, all over the world, function through a strict chain of command and operate under the lawful authority of the Government, with loyalty to the Constitution and the designated civilian leadership, including the Defence Minister.
Ultimately, the Army is always led by a civilian leadership-normally the head of a ruling party. Researchers, academicians and analysts concluded that Bangladeshi politicians are dominated by businessmen.
In 11th parliament businessmen were 61-63% and in the 12th one it is now 65-70%. And traditionally in the capitalist model “Businessmen focus on profit/money (the second God) and Politicians need Power”. Here, honest citizens-be it politicians, bureaucrats, Government officials and Gen “Z” are the only elements who can counter-balance the force who only seek to make money and power.
We all must agree that real power lies in hard training and acquiring military skills at large and those compelled a young future queen/Commander-in-Chief of Spain to spend her valuable time training just to become a leader.
Through training true professionalism and mutual respect grow that in the long run ensures the stability of a state and/or organization and we are far behind from it.
That possibly should open our eyes to find the difference between “them (Spain) and us (Bangladesh)”. But we can always learn for the future—-Learn for Future.
(The Author is an Ex-Brigadier General; obtained PhD from the Dept of Govt and Politics, Jahangirnagar University and he is now the Adjunct Professor
at MIST).
