Border Guard Bangladesh

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Border Guard Bangladesh
বর্ডার গার্ড বাংলাদেশ
2001 Bangladeshi-Indian border skirmish
  • 2015 Bangladesh–Arakan Army border clash
    • Anniversary
    • 20 December
    Award
    Website
    www.bgb.gov.bd
    Service uniform: Maroon
     
    Combat uniform: Maroon, Mocha, Dark Green, Black
        

    The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is a

    border security of Bangladesh. The BGB is entrusted with the responsibility to defend the 4,427 kilometres (2,751 mi) border of Bangladesh with India and Myanmar.[4]
    It was formerly known as the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

    BGB boasts a military history spanning over two centuries.

    auxiliary force to the Bangladesh Army
    .

    History

    Formation and pre-1947

    Ramgarh Local Battalion

    The

    Ramgarh Local Battalion was established on 29 June 1795 at the city of Ramgarh,[8] consisting of 486 personnel, known as the "Frontier Protection Force", under the command of the East India Company.[9]
    Later the force was converted into a paramilitary unit with its own name (Ramgarh Local Battalion) and uniform. At that time its primary responsibility was to suppress insurgent activities around the Ramgarh area.

    Special Reserve Company

    During 1799, the force established its first camp at Pilkhana, where the headquarters remain to this day. The camp unit then was known as "Special Reserve Company".

    Frontier Guards

    The Ramgarh Local Battalion was renamed the "Frontier Guards", and remained so for thirty years from 1861 to 1891.

    Bengal Military Police

    From 1891 till 1920, the Frontier Guards were re-organized, equipped with modern weapons and renamed once again as the "Bengal Military Police".

    First World War.[10]

    Eastern Frontier Rifles

    The BMP was reorganised yet once again and renamed the "

    Second World War.[10]

    East Pakistan Rifles

    After the

    Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 this force fought Indian forces successfully in a number of skirmishes in Lathitila, Dohogram, Laksmipur, Assalong and Boroibari.[14]

    A Bangladesh Rifles Subedar (Senior warrant officer) (left in yellow/green outfit) applies a mechanical advantage control/hold to a United States Marine Corps
    soldier during a military training/exercise.

    Bangladesh Liberation War 1971

    During the

    Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) at the company level.[citation needed] All EPR companies were based within 8 kilometres (5 mi) of the international boundary. There were two senior commissioned officers, seconded from the Pakistan Army in command of each Wing (battalion) of the EPR. In March 1971, there were 12 EPR Wings. The entire force according to CIA estimates had 10,000 enlisted personnel.[15]

    At the outbreak of the Bangladesh Liberation War, the EPR were the first Bengali military unit to defect from the Pakistan forces; moving to Sholashahar and the main military cantonment, while calling on all Bengali soldiers to join them. Reportedly West Pakistani officers serving with the EPR were executed by their Bengali colleagues. On 26 March, the

    EPR Paramilitaries ambushed
    them by surprise, killing and wounding many Pakistani soldiers. but the Pakistanis managed to encircle them. As a result, the EPR took heavy losses at Kumira.[16][failed verification]

    Bangladesh Rifles

    On 29 January 1972, the East Pakistan Rifles were renamed the Bangladesh Rifles with the officers seconded from Bangladesh Army.[17] Bangladesh Rifles initially had 9 thousand personnel in 1971 which by 1973 had increased to 20 thousand.[18][self-published source?] Bangladesh Rifles and Indian Border Security Forces exchanged fired near the Comilla-Tripura border throughout the entire month of December 1979.[19] In 1996 Bangladesh Rifles personnel had grown to 69 thousand.[20]

    BSF and BGB

    Bangladesh–India border clashes 2001

    Main article: 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes
    BGB personnel.

    The 2001 Indian–Bangladeshi border conflict took place in the third week of April 2001 between companies of the Bangladesh Rifles and the Indian Border Security Force on the poorly marked international border between the two countries. This was the worst border conflict Bangladesh was involved in since Independence. The 16–19 April fighting took place around the village of Padua (known as Pyrdiwah in India), which adjoins the Indian state of Meghalaya and the Timbil area of the Bangladesh border in the Sylhet district. In that area, 6.5 kilometres of the border have remained in dispute for the past 30 years. The trigger for the clash appears to have been an attempt by Indian forces to construct a footpath from an army outpost in Padua across a disputed territory some 300 metres wide to Indian Meghalaya. On 15 April 2001, the BDR attacked and captured Pyrdiwah village. Both sides later deescalated and returned to the original positions on the border. This incident left 16 Indian Border Security Force paramilitary men dead and 3 Bangladesh Rifles men dead with 5 other BDR troops injured.[21]

    On 19 April 2005, two BSF personnel were killed in an encounter with Bangladesh Rifles inside Bangladesh territory. According to Bangladesh side, the BSF personnel entered Bangladesh without uniforms and attacked a village.[22] According to India they were dragged into Bangladesh and knifed to death.[23]

    BDR Mutiny 2009

    Main article: Bangladesh Rifles revolt

    On 25 February 2009, regular BDR soldiers mutinied against their officers who were seconded from the Bangladesh Army.[24] The mutiny took place when senior commanders were in Dhaka for convocation or durbar.[25][26] A total of 74 people were killed in the Mutiny.[27] Many senior officers were killed, including almost the entire higher echelon of the command structure – about 57 army officers who were present in the Bangladesh Rifles' headquarters in the capital Dhaka. These included the Director General of the BDR. The soldiers mutinied due to reasons which largely remain unknown, though resentment at officers being seconded from Bangladesh army and allegations of corruption are believed to have been among the causes.[28][29][30][31]

    Dahgram BGB Check post sign.

    After 30 hours, being surrounded by Bangladesh Army tanks, the mutineers surrendered with about 6,000 of them taken under arrest, ending the mutiny.[32] In November 2013, Bangladesh sentenced 152 mutineers from Bangladesh Rifles to death.[33]

    Border Guards Bangladesh

    Panbari BGB check post, Patgram.

    In the aftermath of the mutiny, the Border Guard Bangladesh Act was issued in 2010 and caused the Bangladesh Rifles was reorganised with new recruits. The force is still commanded by senior officers seconded from the Bangladesh Army. The Bangladesh Rifles have gone through some fundamental changes since 2010.[34] It was officially renamed as the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on 23 January 2011 and reorganised with fresh recruits, also formed their own intelligence unit.[35] The Border Guard Bangladesh Act, 2010 increased the maximum punishment for mutiny from 7 years in jail to the death penalty.[36]

    News reports in 2018 stated the BGB had "54,000 troopers".[2] The 2020 edition of The Military Balance put the force's personnel strength at 38,000, organized in 54 battalions and one riverine company.[1]

    Bangladesh–Myanmar border skirmish 2015

    On 28 May 2014, during a routine patrol of the BGB in

    Myanmar Border Police began firing on the BGB patrol. The incident took the life of Border Guard Corporal Mizanur Rahman (43). The body of the slain soldier was then carried over the border by Myanmar Border Police. On 30 May upon request of the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh a BGB team was waiting near border pillar no. 52 for identification of the dead body which was proposed by the Myanmar side. However, to the complete surprise of the BGB, Myanmar border forces suddenly started firing on the waiting BGB team without any provocation resulting in the BGB team returning fire. Both sides deescalated and agreed to a cease fire and on the following day Myanmar returned the dead body of BGB Corporal Mizanur Rahman. Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had protested strongly to the Burmese ambassador over the unprovoked eruption of gunfire by Burmese border troops.[37][38]

    Bangladesh–Arakan Army border clash 2015

    On 26 August 2015 the

    Arakan Army, a separatist group in Myanmar, attacked a BGB patrol in Boro Modak, Thanchi, Bandarban. Two border guards were injured in the attack. On 11 May 2015 the BGB camp in Thanchi came under mortar fire, BGB retaliated by firing two rounds towards the border.[39] Indian BSF agreed to allow BGB to use BSF roads in India to patrol the border on 1 August 2016.[40] On 15 November 2016 Border Guards Bangladesh stopped 86 Rohingyas from entering Bangladesh on two boats.[41] On 6 February 2017 BGB protested with their counterparts in Myanmar Border Guard Police, after they shot and killed a Bangladeshi fisherman in the Naf River.[42] BGB deployed its first female border guards on 24 February 2017 in the Dinajpur border area.[43] BGB and Myanmar Police Force came to an agreement on 6 April 2017 to remove mines from the border area.[44]

    Women Guards

    The force has female soldiers since 2016.[45]

    Decorations

    The then-East Pakistan Rifles joined the

    Bir Sreshtha, which is the highest gallantry award of the nation.[46][47] Birshrestha Noor Mohammad Public College and Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College are educational institutions of the guards named after them.[48][49] 8 earned the Bir Uttom. 40 earned the Bir Bikram and 91 earned the Bir Protik
    awards.

    Medals

    • Border Guard Bangladesh Padak (Bravery)
    • President Border Guard Padak (Bravery)
    • Border Guard Bangladesh Padak (Service)
    • President Border Guard Padak (Service)
    • Bi-Centennial Padak
    • Naf Padak

    After independence, on 3 March 1972 the force had been renamed as Bangladesh Rifles. As a mark of recognition for the courage and bravery of its members, BDR introduced 'Bangladesh Rifles Podok' in 1985 and President Rifles podok' in 1989.[50][51] 21 members had received the 'Bangladesh Rifles Podok' 29 had received the 'President Rifles Podok'.

    Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel patroling at Teknaf, Cox's Bazar.

    Responsibilities

    • Patrolling and securing the border
    • Investigating cross border crimes
    • Anti-smuggling Operations
    • Counter Terrorism
    • Domestic law enforcement during national emergencies
    • Acting as a reserve force under Ministry of Defence during war

    Director Generals

    Main article:
    Director General of Bangladesh Border Guards

    Equipment

    Main article:
    List of equipment of the Border Guards Bangladesh

    Rank structure

    Superior officers

    Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
    Border Guard Bangladesh
    Director General Additional Director General/Regional Commander Deputy Director General/Sector Commander Director/Battalion Commander Additional Director/2nd-in-Battalion Commander Deputy Director/Adjutant Assistant Director/Coy Commander
    Police equivalent Inspector General of Police Additional Inspector General of police Deputy Inspector General of Police Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police Superintendent of Police Additional Superintendent of Police Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police
    Army equivalent Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant

    Subordinate officers

    Rank group Junior commissioned officers Non commissioned officer Enlisted
    Border Guard Bangladesh
    Subedar Major Subedar Naib Subedar Havilder Naik Lance Naik Soldier

    Organization

    The BGB is commanded by a

    Major General ranked Bangladesh Army
    officer. The BGB administration and most of the officer corps are trained and deputed from the Bangladesh Army. There are, however, around 100 officers who are promoted from within the force itself.  They can be promoted as high as deputy director (equivalent to captain in Bangladesh Army.

    BGB is organised into a central headquarters and five regional headquarters. The regions of BGB are equivalent to

    naib subedar, with a havildar as second-in-command. The highest rank for a promotee BGB soldiers, deputy director (major equivalent), fill the billets of battalion adjutant and battalion logistics officers. The subedar-major (lieutenant equivalent) similarly fills the billets of battalion subedar major (ceremonial post) and head Instructors in training establishments and depots. Each Platoon has three sections and each section is commanded by a Naik, with a Lance naik as second-in-command. Each section has two to three teams and the team is led by a lance naik. A BGB personnel is not eligible to lead sections, platoons and companies or hold posts of second-in-command if they are over 40 years of age and those in such positions receive additional 'command allowance'. Its current strength is 70,000[2]
    structured along 64 battalions and numerous border outposts (BOP), mostly along the borders.

    • Central HQ: Pilkhana, Dhaka[52]
      • Director-General (DG)
        • Additional Director-General (Headquarters)
        • Additional Director General (Operations and Training)
        • Additional Director General (Administration)
        • Additional Director General (Medical)
        • Additional Director General/Bureau Chief (Border Security Bureau)
        • Additional Director General/Commandant (Border Guard Training Centre and College)
        • Deputy Director General (Records)
        • Deputy Director General (Logistics)
        • Deputy Director General (Budget)
        • Deputy Director General (Central Purchase)
        • Deputy Director General (Construction Works)
        • Deputy Director General (Communications)
        • Sector Command (Dhaka)
        • HQ Battalion
        • ICT Battalion
    • North Eastern Regional HQ: Sarail
      • Region Commander (RC)
    • North Western Regional HQ: Rangpur
    • South Eastern Regional HQ:
      Halishahar
       
      • Region Commander (RC)
        • Sector Command (Rangamati)
        • Sector Command (
          Khagrachari
          )
        • Sector Command (
          Guimara
          )
        • Chattagram Reserve Battalion
        • Regional Intelligence Bureau (
          Halishahar
          )
    • South Western Regional HQ:
      Jessore
      • Region Commander (RC)
        • Sector Command (Kushtia)
        • Sector Command (Khulna) 
        • Regional Intelligence Bureau (
          Jessore
          )
    • Cox's Bazar Regional HQ: Cox's Bazar

    Future modernization programme

    BGB has adopted a long term modernization plan named "BGB Vision 2041" in 2017.[53] The plan intends to make BGB a well-trained, well-equipped and technologically advanced force. In short terms, BGB plans for structural and manpower expansion. A new region (equivalent to

    Shatkhira and Teknaf of Cox's Bazar. They are the first two units of BGB who will be able to operate in riverine borders and chars (River island). The number of personnel will be increased from 50000 to 65000 soon. 124 Border Out Posts (BOP) and 70 heli-support BOPs are being set up in the border areas of hilly districts along the border with Myanmar. 128 Border Sentri Posts (BSP) are being constructed between the distant BOPs. BGB members ae being equipped with bulletproof vests and ballistic helmet.[54]

    A Quick Response Force will be established for BGB. The force will work to supply modern arms and ammunition swiftly to border points in case of any emergency.[55] For smooth operation in the border areas, border roads are being constructed. In BGB day 2017, prime minister said that the government has undertaken a plan to construct a total of 3,167 km ring road across the borders with India and Myanmar.[54]

    BGB has already bought two Mi-171E helicopters from Russia for its aviation wing at a cost of Tk. 355.10 crore.[56]

    To effectively monitor the border, BGB plans to add modern technology to the border management. The plan is to set up

    night vision goggles and infrared sensors throughout the border. BGB plans to achieve 3I (Information, Identification, Intervention) capabilities in the border in long term. Having Radar and Satellite monitoring
    facilities in the border are also planned.

    References
    1. ^
      S2CID 219627149
      .
    2. ^ a b c "15,000 more posts for BGB". The Independent. Dhaka. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
    3. ^ "India and Bangladesh Trade Fire in Border Dispute".
    4. ISBN 9781843311454
      .
    5. ISBN 9781136704901
      .
    6. ^ "Dhaka jail's security boosted, BGB deployed". The Daily Star. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    7. ^ "BGB man shot dead in Comilla". The Daily Star. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    8. ^ South Asia Defence and Strategic Year Book. Panchsheel. 1 January 2009. p. 273.
    9. ^
      ISBN 9780810874534
      .
    10. ^
      ISBN 9781317202929
      .
    11. ISBN 9781843311454
      .
    12. ^ "Maj. Tufail Shaheed remembered on his 58th death anniversary – Pakistan – Dunya News". dunyanews.tv. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    13. ^ "Maj Tufail Shaheed remembered". The Nation. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    14. ^ "The Eastern Front of the 1965 War was not quiet"
    15. ^ "East Pakistan had many pro-Pakistani army officers". Dhaka Tribune. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    16. ^ (Major Rafiq: A Tale of Millions, Page 56)
    17. ISBN 9780810874534
      .
    18. ISBN 9781438773896.[self-published source
      ]
    19. ISSN 0362-4331
      . Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    20. ISBN 9780761444756
      .
    21. ^ "Fresh Bangladesh border clash". BBC. 19 April 2001. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
    22. ^ "Dhaka denounces 'unprovoked' attack by BSF". The Daily Star. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
    23. ^ "India mute on Jeevan Kumar's slaughter". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
    24. ISSN 0362-4331
      . Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    25. ^ "8 years on, gruesome BDR mutiny still in memory". Dhaka Tribune. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    26. ISSN 0040-781X
      . Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    27. ISSN 0362-4331
      . Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    28. ^ "Pilkhana massacre collaborator mixes in the crowd". The Bangladesh Chronicle. Weekly Blitz. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
    29. ^ "Bangladesh becomes battle zone". BBC. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
    30. ^ "Bangladesh tries 800 soldiers for bloody 2009 mutiny". BBC News. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
    31. ^ "Dozens feared dead in Bangladesh mutiny". CNN. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
    32. ^ "Human Rights Watch Report on Bangladesh Rifles Mutiny Trial". Human Rights Watch. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
    33. ISSN 0362-4331
      . Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    34. ^ "Border Guard Bangladesh Act, 2010". Act No. 63 of 2010 (in Bengali).
    35. ^ "BDR to get new name, uniform, intelligence unit". The Daily Star. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    36. ^ "Firm fetters for border guards". The Daily Star. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    37. ^ "Myanmar returns arms, ammo of slain BGB man". The Daily Star. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    38. ^ "Myanmar's border force regrets Mizan's killing". The Daily Star. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    39. ^ "Bandarban BGB camp comes under mortar attack". The Daily Star. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    40. ^ "India lets BGB use its roads for patrol". The Daily Star. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    41. ^ "Coast guards push back 125 Rohingyas". The Daily Star. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    42. ^ "Bangladesh national shot dead at Myanmar border". The Daily Star. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    43. ^ "First ever female BGB members deployed at Hili Border". Dhaka Tribune. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    44. ^ "BGB, Myanmar cops agree to remove mines from border". The Daily Star. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
    45. ^ "First female members of Border Guard Bangladesh report to work". Bdnews24.com. 1 August 2016.
    46. ^ "Rauf, Birsrestha Munshi Abdur". Banglapedia. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    47. ^ "Sheikh, Birsrestha Nur Mohammad". Banglapedia. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    48. ^ Admin. "Munshi Abdur Rouf College Admission Circular & Result 2022". Retrieved 7 February 2022.
    49. ^ "History of the founding of the Institution". www.noormohammadcollege.ac.bd. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
    50. ^ "Birth of the Phoenix". The Daily Star. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    51. ^ "CA asks BDR to plan for creating poll atmosphere". The Daily Star. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
    52. ^ Bangladesh
    53. ^ "Govt takes'BGB Vision-2041' to make border force world standard:PM". The Daily Tribunal. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
    54. ^ a b "PM asks BGB members to be imbued with bonding spirit". The Daily Star. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
    55. ^ "BGB to introduce Quick Reaction Force". The Independent. Dhaka. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
    56. ^ "Russian copters to turn BGB into 3-dimensional force". The Independent. Dhaka. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
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