Turkey
ISLAMABAD: A retired Brigadier General of the Bangladesh Army has publiclydeclared that Dhaka should send its senior officers for advanced trainingto China, Pakistan or Turkey but never to India, asserting that Bangladeshneeds to defend its territory from New Delhi rather than learn from it.
The officer, whose identity has been widely circulated on social mediawithout official contradiction, stated: “Send our Brigadiers to China,Pakistan or Turkey for National Defence Course but NEVER to Hindustan. Wedon’t need their defence courses — we need to defend our land from them!”
The remark, posted on X on December 4, quickly gained traction across SouthAsian defence circles and reflects deepening distrust toward India withinsegments of Bangladesh’s military community following the politicalupheaval of August 2024.
Since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh hasaccelerated defence cooperation with Pakistan and China while scaling backparticipation in Indian military institutions, including the prestigiousNational Defence College in New Delhi. Recent months have witnessedhigh-level exchanges between the Bangladesh Army and Pakistan’s militaryestablishment, alongside the acquisition of Chinese hardware and Turkishsystems.
Observers note that several retired Bangladeshi generals have adoptedincreasingly strident rhetoric against India, with some advocatingstrategic alignment with Islamabad and Beijing. The current armyleadership, however, continues to emphasise the importance of maintainingworkable relations with New Delhi despite domestic political shifts.
The statement comes amid reports that Bangladesh has resumed sendingofficers to Pakistan’s Command and Staff College in Quetta after a longhiatus and is expanding training programmes with Turkey’s armed forces.India, once a primary destination for Bangladeshi officers pursuing higherdefence studies, has reportedly seen a sharp decline in participation.
Defence analysts in Islamabad view the development as part of a broaderrealignment in Dhaka’s security outlook, driven by the interim government’sdesire to diversify partnerships and reduce perceived dependence on India.Pakistan’s military diplomacy has actively courted Bangladesh since lastyear, with reciprocal visits and discussions on joint exercises.
The growing chorus from retired generals signals a generational shift inattitudes within Bangladesh’s armed forces. The army chief, GeneralWaker-Uz-Zaman, recently described war with India as “unthinkable” andstressed continued dependence on New Delhi for certain strategicrequirements.
Nevertheless, the viral remark underscores the challenges facingIndia-Bangladesh defence ties at a time when regional alliances areundergoing rapid transformation.
Source:https://tribune.com.pk/story/2512895/bangladesh-army-officer-sparks-row-with-anti-india-remarks
Source:https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-shuns-indian-defence-courses-pivots-to-pakistan-china-turkey-834127
Tags: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China, Turkey, Defence, Army
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