Military history of Bangladesh

Bangladesh's military history is intertwined with the history of a larger region, including present-day India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. The country was historically part of Bengal – a major power in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Muslims brought new military technology to the region after the 12th century. According to

early modern periods, Bengal was notable for its navy and shipbuilding

. Its shipyards produced ships for the Mughal, Ottoman and British navies.

A

parliamentary democracy

in 1991, the Bangladesh Armed Forces have been subordinate to the civilian governments, including political and technocratic governments.

Since contributing forces to the

counter-terrorism and maritime security

operations.

The 2008 Bangladesh–Myanmar naval standoff was a notable event of modern Bangladeshi military history.

Early history

Pre-Islamic Era

The early

Mauryan Empire in the eastern Indian subcontinent. The ancient Indian armies included chariots

.

Pala period

The Bengal region crystallized as an imperial power during the 8th-11th century

Rashtrakutas

.

Sultanate period

The

Rajputs and Pashtuns

.

In the 14th century, Sultan

Kingdom of Tripura.^[5] Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah became known as the Alexander of the eastern subcontinent after sacking Kathmandu, Varanasi and Cuttack

.

Bengal Sultanate

The

Bengal Sultanate-Kingdom of Mrauk U War of 1512-1516. The naval strength of Bengal was notable during the Ilyas Shahi dynasty and the Hussain Shahi dynasty.^[1]

Invasion of Sher Shah

Suri Empire. Sher Shah Suri also renovated the Grand Trunk Road around Sonargaon

. His successors later revived the Bengal Sultanate.

Isa Khan's campaigns

After the Bengal Sultanate collapsed in the late 16th-century, the aristocrat

Egarasindhur. Isa Khan defeated Mughal governors Khan Jahan I in 1578, Shahbaz Khan in 1584 and Man Singh I in 1594. His son and successor Musa Khan continued to lead the confederation until succumbing to the Mughals led by Islam Khan I in 1610.^[6]

Mughal period

Bengal remained relatively stable and prosperous during the 17th century. A key challenge during the early Mughal period was

British East India Company after the Battle of Plassey

.

Forts

Mud forts were common in Bengal, such as the Ekdala Fort used in the

Bengal Sultanate-Delhi Sultanate War. By the 17th century, the Mughals constructed a series of riverside fortifications in the Bengal delta. Some of the surviving forts include the following.^[7]

Artillery

The artillery was a vital part of the Bengal military. The Mughal emperor Babur saw it as a very effective part of the Bengal army. Portuguese historian João de Barros opined that the military supremacy of the Bengal army over that of Arakan and Tripura was due to the efficiency of its artillery. The artillery used cannons and guns of various sizes.^[8] The Bibi Mariam Cannon and the Jahan Kosha Cannon are examples of early modern Bengali artillery.

Bengal was a major exporter of

saltpeter to Europe until the 19th century.^[3]^[2]

Mercenaries

Foreign mercenaries were an important part of the Bengal Sultanate army. Bengal recruited mercenaries from Abyssinia.^[9]

Shipbuilding

In the 14th century,

Ottoman navy. During the Mughal Empire, Bengal was the leading producer ships in the subcontinent.^[10]

The British Royal Navy had many of its ships built in Chittagong, including vessels used in the Battle of Trafalgar.

Colonial military history

Commonwealth War Cemetery, Chittagong

The

Bogra Cantonment

.The following includes a list of conflicts which occurred within the territory of Bangladesh under British rule.

Fort William from the East India Company

Siraj-ud-Daulah

, the last independent Nawab of Bengal

Anglo-Nepalese War- leads to Treaty of Sugali with Nepal and Treaty of Titalia (signed in Tetulia) with Sikkim
First Anglo-Burmese War- Burmese forces invade Chittagong Division
Indian Rebellion of 1857- includes revolt by the Bengal Army in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet
Bengal Duars, including parts of Panchagarh District

Allied Forces of World War II stationed in Chittagong, Comilla, Dhaka and Sylhet; Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
bombs Chittagong

There was strong opposition to British involvement against the Turkish War of Independence, as both Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Ottoman caliphate enjoyed support in Bengal.

Name of Conflict	Belligerents		Outcome
Name of Conflict	Allies	Opponent(s)	Outcome
Second Opium War (1856–1860)	British Empire United Kingdom India French Empire	Qing dynasty	Victory Treaties of Tientsin .
Ambela Campaign (1863–1864)	India	Afghan Pashtuns Yusufzai tribes	Victory Bunerwals surrender. Malka burned.
Bhutan War (1864–1865)	India	Bhutan	Victory Bhutanese territorial cessions to India.
British Expedition to Abyssinia (1867–1868)	United Kingdom India	Ethiopian Empire	Victory British victory at the Battle of Magdala, Theodore II commits suicide.
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880)	United Kingdom India	Afghanistan	Victory Treaty of Gandamak, British objectives attained. Afghanistan's tribal frontier areas annexed into British India. Afghanistan becomes a British Protectorate.
Mahdist War (1881–1899)	United Kingdom India Egypt Ethiopia	Mahdist Sudan	Victory Sudan became an Anglo-Egyptian condominium.
Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)	United Kingdom India Tewfik Pasha	Ahmed Orabi	Victory Ahmed Orabi exiled, British occupation of Egypt .
Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885)	India	Burmese Empire	Victory The province of Burma became part of the British Raj.
Third Black Mountain Expedition (1888)	India	Yousafzai Afghans Hassanzai Akazai	Victory Allaiwal village of Pokal occupied and destroyed.
Sikkim Expedition (1888)	India	Tibet	Victory Tibetan forces expelled from Sikkim.
Hunza-Nagar Campaign (1891)	India	Hunza Nagar	Victory The British gained control of Hunza and Nagar.
Chitral Expedition (1895)	India	Bajauri Afghan Tribesmen	Victory Fort of Chitral relieved.
Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896)	Britain India	Zanzibar Sultanate	Victory End of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Zanzibar ceded to the British Empire.
Tochi Expedition (1896)	India	Waziris	Victory Rebellion put down.
Siege of Malakand (1897)	India	پشتون Pashtun tribes	Victory Siege successful.
First Mohmand Campaign (1897–1898)	India	Mohmand	Victory Punitive expedition successful.
Tirah Campaign (1897–1898)	India	Afridi Orakzai Tsamkani	Victory Negotiations for peace were then begun with the Afridi
Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901)	Empire of Japan Russia United Kingdom India Italy	Yihetuan Movement Qing dynasty	Victory The rebellion was suppressed. Signing of the Boxer Protocol. Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing.
Second Boer War (1899–1902)	United Kingdom British Cape Colony Natal Colony Rhodesia Australia India Canada New Zealand British Ceylon	Orange Free State South African Republic	Victory Treaty of Vereeniging, British sovereignty over The Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
British expedition to Tibet (1903–1904)	India	Tibet	Victory Treaty enforced, return to status quo.
Bambatha Rebellion (1906)	United Kingdom India	Zulu people	Victory Rebellion suppressed
Bazar Valley Campaign (1908)	India	Zakka Khel clan of the Afridi	Victory Rebellion suppressed
World War I (1914–1918)	France United Kingdom South Africa Australia Canada India Newfoundland New Zealand Russian Empire Italy United States Serbia Japan Belgium Greece Romania Portugal Brazil	Germany DSWA DOA Kamerun DNG South African Republic	Victory End of the German, Russian, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian empires Formation of new countries in Europe and the Middle East Transfer of regions of the former Ottoman Empire to other powers Establishment of the League of Nations.
Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War (1918–1920)	White movement British Empire United Kingdom Canada Australia India China	Russian SFSR Far Eastern Republic Latvian SSR Ukrainian SSR Commune of Estonia Mongolian communists	Withdrawal Allied withdrawal from Russia. Bolshevik victory over White Army .
Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923)	Greece Pontic Rebels France French West Africa Armenia United Kingdom India Georgia	Ankara Government Kuva-yi Milliye	Armistice ^[11] Overthrow of the Ottoman Sultanate. Armistice of Mudanya. Treaty of Lausanne. Establishment of the Republic of Turkey.
Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919)	United Kingdom India	Afghanistan	Armistice Treaty of Rawalpindi Afghan invasion repelled. Afghanistan regains control of external affairs. Reaffirmation of the Durand Line.
First Waziristan Campaign (1919)	India	Waziristan	Victory Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.
Kuwait–Najd War (1919–1920)	United Kingdom India Kuwait	Sultanate of Nejd Ikhwan	Victory Ikhawan retreat.
Iraqi revolt (1920)	United Kingdom India	Iraqi rebels	Victory Faisal I of Iraq installed as the King of Iraq.
Malabar rebellion (1921)	India	Mappila Muslims	Victory Rebellion suppressed.
Pink's War (1925)	India	Mahsud tribesmen	Victory Tribal leaders accept terms.
Second Mohmand Campaign (1935)	India	Mohmand	Victory Jirga and peace.
Second Waziristan Campaign (1936–1939)	India	Waziri tribesmen	Victory Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.
World War II (1939–1945)	Soviet Union United States United Kingdom India Republic of China South Africa Australia Canada New Zealand France Poland Yugoslavia Greece Denmark Norway Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg Czechoslovakia	Germany Vichy France Italy Japan Manchukuo Mengjiang Wang Jingwei regime Azad Hind Thailand Empire of Vietnam State of Burma Hungary Romania Bulgaria	Victory Collapse of the German Reich Collapse of Fascism in Italy Creation of the United Nations Emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers Beginning of the Cold War
Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1947)	Netherlands United Kingdom India	Indonesia	Withdrawal Indian withdrawal after independence in 1947. The Netherlands recognises Indonesian independence.
Operation Masterdom (1945–1946)	United Kingdom India France Japan	Viet Minh	Withdrawal Start of the Geneva Conference of 1954.

Eastern wing of Pakistan

With the

combat aircraft without tank support were in East Pakistan to thwart any Indian retaliations during the conflict.^[13]^[14]

Khwaja Wasiuddin was the most senior Bengali officer in the Pakistani military.

Bangladesh Liberation War

Location of Bengali and Pakistani military units in March 1971

Following the victory of the

Bangladesh Forces was formed from the revolting Bengali members of the Pakistan Army and EPR.^[21] In this historic conference the field command structure, sector reorganization, reinforcement, appointment of field commanders and tactics of warfare were decided upon and carried out. On 21 November 1971, the Bangladesh Forces was divided into three separate services as Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force

.

The Bangladesh Forces received modest assistance from the Indian Government soon after the start of the war.[22] On 3 December 1971, India-Pakistan war broke out and Indian troops enter Bangladesh allied with the Bangladesh Armed Forces.^[23] On 16 December 1971 the Pakistani Military force in Bangladesh surrender to a joint force of Indian and Bangladesh forces.^[24]

Post-independence

The newly formed Bangladeshi armed forces incorporated some of the units and guerrillas of the Mukti Bahini.

Hossain Mohammad Ershad took power from the elected government of president Abdus Sattar. The military remained the most important force in national politics under the regimes of Ziaur Rahman and later Hossain Mohammad Ershad until democracy was restored in 1991.^[29]

Modern period

Bangladeshi peacekeepers in Darfur, Sudan

Having relied primarily on

Côte d'Ivoire and Ethiopia

. As of October 2008, Bangladesh remained the second largest contributor with 9,800 troops in the UN Peacekeeping forces.

Until a peace accord was signed in 1997, the Bangladeshi military engaged in

Begum Khaleda Zia

.

Forces Goal 2030 was launched by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to secure new equipment for the Bangladeshi military.

Bangladesh-Myanmar border

Standoffs have occasionally occurred at the

counter-insurgency

operations on the border.

2008 Bangladesh–Myanmar naval standoff
2015 Bangladesh-Arakan Army border clash

References

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Military - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Gunpowder plots | Dhaka Tribune". Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b Saltpetre - Banglapedia
ISBN 978-1-84774-062-5
.

^ "Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

^ "Isa Khan - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

^ "Fort - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

^ Military - Banglapedia

^ "BENGAL – Encyclopaedia Iranica". Iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

^ "Shipbuilding Industry - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

^ Chester Neal Tate, Governments of the world: a global guide to citizens' rights and responsibilities, Macmillan Reference USA/Thomson Gale, 2006, p. 205.

^ ^a ^b Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Pakistan Era". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 207.

^ Demons of December — Road from East Pakistan to Bangladesh

ISBN 0-231-03625-6
.

^ Bose, Sarmila (8 October 2005). "Anatomy of Violence: Analysis of Civil War in East Pakistan in 1971". Economic and Political Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007.

^ Matthew White's Death Tolls for the Major Wars and Atrocities of the Twentieth Century

^ Virtual Bangladesh : History : The Bangali Genocide, 1971 Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine

^ Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Zia's regime". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 37–40.

^ Ahmed, Helal Uddin (2012). "Mukti Bahini". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

^ Uddin, Syed Mohd. Saleh (2012). "Bangladesh Air Force". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

^ Kawakita, Atsuyo. "Bangladesh War of Independence. The history of Bangladesh Independence War". www.bengalrenaissance.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

^ "Unfinished agenda of the Liberation War". The Daily Star. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

^ "The Tangail Landings: A signal for victory". The Daily Star. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

^ "Witnessing the surrender". The Daily Star. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

^ ^a ^b Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Postindependence Period". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 211.

^ Khan, Muazzam Hussain (2012). "Osmany, General Mohammad Ataul Ghani". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

^ ^a ^b Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Mujib coup". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 32–36.

JSTOR 2644413
.

^ ^a ^b Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Restoration of Military Rule". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 36–37.

^ "Bangladesh: Death at Night". Time. 8 June 1981. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2006.

^ "India-Bangladesh border conflict". BBC News. 18 April 2001.

^ Saikia, Jaideep (July 2003). "Terror Sans Frontiers: Islamic Militancy in North East India" (PDF). The Program in Arms Control & Domestic and International Security at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2015.

^ ULFA, an agent for India's enemies

^ Parthasarathy, G. (3 November 2005). "The Bangladesh Challenge". The Hindu Business Line (Opinion).

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Military_history_of_Bangladesh&oldid=1222681413"

[banglapedia1-1] "Military - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

[autogenerated2-2] "Gunpowder plots | Dhaka Tribune". Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.

[autogenerated1-3] Saltpetre - Banglapedia

[4] ISBN 978-1-84774-062-5
.

[5] "Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

[6] "Isa Khan - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

[7] "Fort - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

[8] Military - Banglapedia

[9] "BENGAL – Encyclopaedia Iranica". Iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

[10] "Shipbuilding Industry - Banglapedia". En.banglapedia.org. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.

[11] Chester Neal Tate, Governments of the world: a global guide to citizens' rights and responsibilities, Macmillan Reference USA/Thomson Gale, 2006, p. 205.

[Library-12] Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Pakistan Era". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 207.

[13] Demons of December — Road from East Pakistan to Bangladesh

[14] ISBN 0-231-03625-6
.

[15] Bose, Sarmila (8 October 2005). "Anatomy of Violence: Analysis of Civil War in East Pakistan in 1971". Economic and Political Weekly. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007.

[MathewWhite-16] Matthew White's Death Tolls for the Major Wars and Atrocities of the Twentieth Century

[17] Virtual Bangladesh : History : The Bangali Genocide, 1971 Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[Rule-18] Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Zia's regime". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 37–40.

[UB-19] Ahmed, Helal Uddin (2012). "Mukti Bahini". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

[II-20] Uddin, Syed Mohd. Saleh (2012). "Bangladesh Air Force". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

[bengalrenaissance1-21] Kawakita, Atsuyo. "Bangladesh War of Independence. The history of Bangladesh Independence War". www.bengalrenaissance.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

[22] "Unfinished agenda of the Liberation War". The Daily Star. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

[23] "The Tangail Landings: A signal for victory". The Daily Star. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

[24] "Witnessing the surrender". The Daily Star. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2017.

[LC-25] Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Postindependence Period". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 211.

[OT-26] Khan, Muazzam Hussain (2012). "Osmany, General Mohammad Ataul Ghani". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

[GF-27] Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Mujib coup". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 32–36.

[JSTOR3-28] JSTOR 2644413
.

[VS-29] Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Restoration of Military Rule". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 36–37.

[killing-30] "Bangladesh: Death at Night". Time. 8 June 1981. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2006.

[IBG-31] "India-Bangladesh border conflict". BBC News. 18 April 2001.

[ISI-32] Saikia, Jaideep (July 2003). "Terror Sans Frontiers: Islamic Militancy in North East India" (PDF). The Program in Arms Control & Domestic and International Security at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2015.

[V-33] ULFA, an agent for India's enemies

[HUJI-34] Parthasarathy, G. (3 November 2005). "The Bangladesh Challenge". The Hindu Business Line (Opinion).

[5]

[1]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[3]

[2]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[13]

[14]

[21]

[23]

[24]

[29]