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  • Essay / Rise of armed forces and non-traditional challenges for the future of Bangladesh

    After independence in 1971, the armed forces of Bangladesh have come a long way. A tiny but dedicated guerrilla force, comprising Bengali elements of the then Pakistan Army who joined the Liberation War to form the backbone of the liberation force, has today transformed into a quite large force, well trained, well armed, highly professional and, above all,. force well recognized by the world. The Bangladesh Armed Forces have progressed over time as a well-organized force alongside the rapidly developing world. This force has gained fame for being capable not only of playing the primary role of defending the country's border against external aggression and internal subversion, but also of increasingly and successfully contributing to the task of nation building with the motto "Always high is my Head". Having experience in combating diversified non-traditional security threats against the nation, this force has already established itself as one of the premier armed forces most competent line in the region Say no to plagiarism Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayThe international environment is rapidly transforming and demands a new generation of. “multi-dimensional” United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) The dynamics of operations have become more complex due to new mandates and, very often, with fewer resources, missions are expected to carry out complex, simultaneous and complex tasks. interdependent in difficult and remote operational environments. Not all forces in the world can comply and meet the requirements of the current status of transformation into 5th generation peacekeeping by the UN. At this stage of UNPKO, the Bangladesh Armed Forces are the UN's preferred force for its global peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions. Members of the armed forces are Bangladesh's ambassadors abroad, serving humanity, empowering the millions of people affected by conflicts in the world's most disaster-stricken region. With a spending of around 1.5% of its GDP on defense and which is With a percentage increasing in recent years, the government of Bangladesh considers the armed forces as one of the most important spending sectors of the government. As a result, the Bangladesh Army grew from a force of 3 brigades in the early 1970s to its current strength of 8 modernized divisions. It is a well-equipped force with an upgraded version of tanks, greater range of artillery and missiles of modern generations, expanded air capability, modernized dismounted and mechanized infantry and many other notable advancements. An air force started its journey as 'Kilo Flight' in 1971. Today it is a well-equipped force with an improved generation of combat aircraft, attack helicopters, transport aircraft long range and an impressive range of air defense systems. The Bangladesh Navy has also grown from a few patrol boats to its current component of modern missile-armed combat ships, maritime patrol aircraft and submarines. This will provide the Bangladesh Armed Forces with considerable three-dimensional naval capability in the air, surface and underwater. The Forces 2030 Objective, after its revision in 2017, has already begun to see its implementation on the ground. The program is moving forward at a recognizable pace with emphasis on a comprehensive modernization program through the reform of the military organization, the expansion of forces, thetransformation of the indigenous defense sector to support research, manufacturing and acquisition of modern military weapons. Bangladesh Armed Forces is primarily designed to wage conventional warfare against external aggression. It can be said that for Bangladesh, the threat of external aggression is marginal, at present and in the near future. The land and maritime borders with Myanmar are well demarcated. The only notable problem with Myanmar is the Rohingya crisis which is being brought to the international stage by the government. This major effort is very likely to provide a strategic solution to the crisis without the participation of the armed forces. Bangladesh shares a border of more than 4,000 km with its larger neighbor India, and this is also well demarcated, although parts with a total length of around 9 km are considered disputed. There are few other issues, such as enclaves and lands owned by adversaries, that are being resolved diplomatically. The issue of sharing water from common rivers often strains India-Bangladesh relations and does not merit a military solution. Currently, there is no dispute between the two countries that could escalate into military confrontation. Furthermore, the considerable military capabilities and international image of the Bangladesh Armed Forces act as a deterrent to any external military threats. However, in the current context, States are seeking peaceful dialogue to resolve their differences in the event of internal conflicts. In recent decades, new threats have emerged that may not directly affect the core values ​​of statehood, territorial integrity and political sovereignty, but require military intervention in the best interests of the nation. These threats are classified as non-traditional threats (NTT). Generally, depending on their origin, two types of NTT are observed: human and natural. Threats such as terrorism, arms and drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime, money laundering, cybercrime, illegal migration, etc. fall under Manmade NTT. On the other hand, natural NTTs include floods, cyclones and tidal waves, earthquakes, global warming, pollution, pandemics, etc. Both types of threats can often turn into an existential crisis for the nation and merit military assistance and intervention. Today, military forces are increasingly called upon to play their non-traditional roles and they prove to be the best responders in this type of situation. This is why the defense forces are reforming their organizational structures and considering adapting to their new roles. The Bangladesh Armed Forces are no exception. Over the years, it has established a model for fighting NTTs around the world. In today's highly globalized world, through the spear of NTT, the most globalized threat is terrorism. He has crossed all borders and cannot obtain any nationality. The Bangladesh Armed Forces have already set the greatest example of success in fighting terrorism on their own soil through Operation Twilight and Operation Thunderbolt. In both cases, the Armed Forces were launched as a last resource and given a single "Success" option. The nation and the world know the rest of the glorious successes of the Bangladesh Armed Forces in these high-risk operations. Furthermore, at the call of the international community, in distant countries and in different environments,Bangladesh Armed Forces are successfully fighting against international terrorist organizations. It has demonstrated remarkable actions against international terrorist organizations such as ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and JNIM, the umbrella group formed by the Saharan branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. It is assumed that this kind of fights will be even bloodier, fiercer and longer. Apart from a proper strategy, this involves an improved version of tactics, weapons, equipment and training to combat these types of terrorist forces. While being part of a multinational UN force, and in addition to the 'counter-terrorism' factors mentioned above, the Bangladesh Armed Forces may find themselves less prepared for a 'counter-terrorism' approach on the international scene. To secure the crown of the leading nation in the new generation of peacekeeping, these obstacles must be overcome in the near future. The Bangladesh Armed Forces have achieved significant success in playing a vital role in the fight against arms and drug smuggling in Chottogram Hill Tracks and many other parts of the country. Even today, arms and drug trafficking has already taken on an international dimension and is thus attracting the attention of the international community. It would not be surprising if the Bangladeshi armed forces were asked to be deployed abroad to combat such smuggling. In the South Asian region, there is a close nexus between Myanmar drug and arms traffickers, Islamist militants and Maoist insurgents. Very often, arms and drug traffickers are involved in human trafficking to maintain their side or backup financial plan. For clandestine financial management, the use of false documents and false bank accounts is a very common phenomenon in this type of illegal activities. Preventing money laundering therefore constitutes a major responsibility for security forces. Military forces have a clear and designated role in assisting all of these counterterrorism activities. In the case of handling natural disasters like floods, cyclones, landslides, earthquakes, etc., the Bangladesh Armed Forces have been exceptional for decades. This force should be ready to meet the same challenge in a broader domain if deployed abroad. Even in the fight against pandemics like COVID-19, the role of the armed forces has been seen across the country. The Bangladesh Armed Forces are the most systematically trained, disciplined and equipped to operate under extreme pressure and in a state of emergency than any other organization. So, like many other countries, the Bangladesh government has confidently decided to send its armed forces to the frontlines to fight COVID-19. Combined with access to various critical assets such as airlifts, sealifts, heavy-duty vehicles and a well-disciplined workforce with experience maintaining and operating these facilities, the forces armies have so far exerted all their efforts to serve the nation. During the Ebola virus outbreak in Central Africa, military forces emerged as the best option for controlling movement across and within the country. With the combination of experience fighting COVID-19 on the front lines and the mentioned tradition of deploying military forces in UN missions to combat the pandemic, the Bangladesh Armed Forces may have to respond to an international call of the same type in the near future. Therefore, to keep high the image and the flag of the.