Bangladesh Rifles edit
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Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) is a paramilitary force in Bangladesh. Mainly associated with guarding the borders of the country, this force is known by the Bangladeshi as "The Vigilant Sentinels of Our National Frontier"1. The British had first organized the Ramgarh Local Battalion in 1795 by recruiting the native population. The battalion was succeeded by the Eastern Frontier Rifles, which guarded the frontier from 1891 to 1920, when it was disbanded. Border duties were assumed by the East Pakistan Rifles & finally by the BDR.
Apart from its primary task of protecting the borders, the members of Bangladesh Rifles have taken part in other military operations. This force was vested with the additional task of checking smuggling in 1958. Its members took up arms in an organized manner against the Pakistan Army during the liberation war of 1971. Several members earned gallantry awards - for example, Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheikh and Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf earned the highest gallantry award, the Bir Sreshtha; 8 others were awarded the Bir Uttam, 40 other the, Bir Bikram and 91 the Bir Patik.
The BDR is headed by a Director General. Its total manpower is 67,000, organized into a central headquarters and various sectors, battalions and border outposts, mainly along the frontiers.
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The Bangladesh Rifles is entrusted with defending the 4,427 km border & with anti-smuggling operations. This force started its journey in 1795 as ‘Ramgarh Local Battalion’. Later on, this force had been reshaped more in agency, name and uniform in accordance with the ever growing demand of the time. In 1799, the force established the first camp in the uniquely lush green abode of Peelkhana named as ‘Special Reserve Company'.
Bangladesh Rifles took part in many military operations including the First and Second World Wars. In the 1971 Liberation of Bangladesh, this force fought valiantly and successfully in a number of border skirmishes, including Lathitila, Dohogram, Laksmipur, Assalong and Boroibari. Major Tofael was awarded the highest military operant of erstwhile Pakistan, ‘Nishan-e-Haider’, for his action in the Laksmipur Operation. During the War of Liberation, soldier of this force took up arms against the occupation army. The contribution in the War of Liberation earned 142 gallantry awards including two ‘Bir Sresthos’ (the highest gallantry award).
Ramgarh Local Battalion (1795-1861) ‘The Frontier Protection Force’ was formed the East India Company. It was re-named the Ramgarh Local Battalion in 1795 and was assigned of suppressing the insurgents in Ramgarh area.
Frontier Guards (1861-1891) The Ramgarh Local Battalion was renamed the Frontier Guards for thirty years.
Bengal Military Police (1891-1919) The Frontier Guards was re-organized and equipped with more modern weapons, in 1891 as the ‘Bengal Military Police’. Commanded by a Subedar (Senior Warrant Officer), the BMP had four companies located at Dhaka, Dhumka and Gangtok.
Eastern Frontier Rifles (1920-1947) The BMP was reorganized & renamed the ‘Eastern Frontier Rifles’ in 1920. Its primary task was to protect the borders.
East Pakistan Rifles (1947-1972) After the partition of Indian sub-continent ‘Eastern Frontier Rifles’ was re-grouped and re-named the 'East Pakistan Rifles'. A metropolitan armed police of Calcutta and some 1,000 ex-soldiers of West Pakistan merged into the force. Officers from the army were employed and it was assigned border protection and anti-smuggling duties. The strength of the force was 13,454 in March 1971.
Bangladesh Rifles (1972-present) After the emergence of Bangladesh, the East Pakistan Rifles was re-named the Bangladesh Rifles in 1972. The BDR is one of the oldest, most war-hardened professional paramilitary forces in the region. War experiences include:
In 1958 this force was additional task of anti-smuggling. It is the only force whose members took up arms against the erstwhile pak. This organization is proud of its contribution for the independence and sovereignty of our nation boasting 14 awards comprising 2 highest gallantry awardees Bir Srestho Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheik, and Bir Srestho Munshi Abdur Rouf, 8 Bir Uttams, 40 Bir Bikrams and 91 Bir Pratiks. After the independence, on 3d March 1972 had been renamed as Bangladesh Rifles. As a mark of recognition of great courage and bravery of soldiers, Rifles introduced Bangladesh Rifles Podok in 1985 and President Rifles podok’ in 1989. So far, 21 members Bangladesh Rifles podok’ and 29 received ‘President Rifles podok’. During the border skirmish at BOROIBARI post in 2001 3 of our valiant Riflemen made supreme sacrifice for the sovereignty of our with Indian Border country. These 3 martyrs were honored by Bangladesh Rifles podok while the other 5 were awarded press podok.
Rich in heritage, this force demonstrated its superior fighting skills and velour during our great war of liberation as 817 soldiers embraced death to become martyrs, two were posthumously awarded the highest gallantry ‘Bir Srestho’ for unprecedented chivalry, 8 soldiers were awarded of ‘Bir Uttam’ while 32 ‘Bir Bikram’ and 78 won the ‘Bir Protik’s.
Bir Srestho Shahid Lance Nayak Munshi Abdur Rouf
Bir Srestho Shahid Lance Nayak Nur Mohammad Sheikh
Shahid DAD Salahuddin Ahmed
Shahid N/Sub Habibur Rahman
Shahid N/Sub Fazlur Rahman
Shahid Sepoy Shafiquddin Chowdhury
Shahid Havildar Mijibur Rahman
Shahid Sepoy AKM Ershad Ali
Shahid Sepoy Abu Taleb Sheikh
Shahid Sepoy Anwar Hossain Ahmed
Sub Abdul Malek
AD Mohd. Abdus Shukur
N/Sub Sig Syed Amirruzaman
N/Sub Nazimuddin
N/Sub UK Ching
N/Sub Haider Ali
N/Sub Shah Ali Akond
Hav Abdus Salam
Hav Anis Mullah
Hav Arob Ali
Naik Shahid Mohd. abdul Kasem
Sepoy Shahid Mohd. Nurul Islam
Sub/Maj Sultan Ahmed
Sub/Maj Fakir Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury
Shahid Sub Moniruzzaman Ahmed
Shahid Sub Zumma Mia
N/Sub Bulu Mia
N/Sub Abdul Kher
Shahid Habilder Md. Kamruzzaman
Shahid Habilder Talik Ullah
Shahid/N Abdul Malek
Shahid/N Mozzafar Hossain
Shahid L/N Abdus Sattar
Shahid L/N Md. Nizam Uddin
Shahid Sepoy Zillur Rahman
Shahid Sepoy Golam Rasul
Sepoy Abul Basher
Sepoy Abdul Mazid
Sepoy Lilu Mia
Shahid Sepoy Delwar Hossain
Shahid Sepoy Azhar Mollik
Shahid Sepoy Mohammad Ullah
DD Khairul
AD Md. Osman Ali
Sub Major Hassan Uddin Ahmed
Sub Md. Abdur Majumder
Sub Ayez uddin Ahmed
Sub Major Tabarak Ullah
Sub Abdul Zabbar
Sub Gloam Moshiur
Sub Ahmed Hossain
Sub Abdul Malek
Sub Mohammad Hossain
Sub Loni Miah
Sub Habibur Rahman
Sub Mamtaz Uddin
Sub Abdur Rashid
Sub Khalilur Rahman
Sub Abdul Goni
Sub Abdul Hossain
N/Sub Mafizur Rahman
N/Sub Nurul Huq
N/Sub Khorshed Alam
N/Sub Azizur Rahman
N/Sub Nazrul Islam
N/Sub Mostofa Kamal
N/Sub Saidur Rahman
Hav Oajid Ullah
Hav Malu Miah
Hav Shohokari Shafiq Uddin Ahmed
Hav Malu Miah
Hav Md. Ebrahim
Hav Shek Solaiman
Hav Ahmedur Rahman
Hav Bacchu Miah
Hav Atahar Ali
Hav Zakir Hossain
NK Tofayel Ahmed
NK Saidul Hoque
Lnk Forkan Ali
Lnk Md. Abdul Miah
Lnk Delowar Hossain
Sepoy Lutfur Rahman
Sepoy Abdul Zabbar
DAD Mozaffor Hossain
Hav Abdur Rahman
Shahid Nk Rashid Ali
Shahid N Abdul Gofoor
Sepoy Abdul Hamid
Shahid Sepoy Md. Yakob Ali
Nk Sig Bosir Ahmed
Sub Syed Khan
Sub Abdul Rouf Sharif
Hav Abdur Oahid
Sub Mazharul Haque
Hav Shahid Abul Hossain
Sub Maj Abdul Jalil Sikder
Shahid Sepoy Faroque Lakshor
Sub Maj Abdul Oazed
Sub Maj Rpchib Ali
N/Sub Asad Ali
Hav Abu Taher
Shahid Sepoy Gul Mohammad Bhawyan
The British initially organized this force during the days of the empire. During the independence era, in 1958, the East Pakistan Rifles was given the additional task of carrying out anti-smuggling operations. The East Pakistan Rifles received 1 Sitara-i-Hilal and 4 Tamgha-i-Jurrats during the Indo-Pak War of 1965. The organization is proud of its contribution to the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh, boasting 141 gallantry awards comprising 2 highest gallantry awards 'Bir Srestho' Lance Naik Nur Mohammed Sheik, and 'Bir Srestho' Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf. Further decorations given to members of the unit include eight Bir Uttams, 40 Bir Bikrams and 91 Bir Pratiks.
After independence, on 3rd March 1972, the force was renamed the 'Bangladesh Rifles'. As a mark of recognition of the courage of its soldiers, the Bangladesh Rifles introduced the 'Bangladesh Rifles award' award in 1985 and the 'President Rifles award' decoration in 1989. So far, 21 members have won the 'Bangladesh Rifles award' and 29 have received the 'President Rifles award'. During a fierce border skirmish at BOROIBARI Border Out Post in 2001, three Bangladesh Riflemen were killed in action in fighting with Indian forces. They were honoured with posthumous award of the Bangladesh Rifles awards while another five were presented with the President Rifles award.
Crew-served weapons in service with the Bangladesh Army, and Paramilitary Forces include mortars, recoilless rifles and rockets, anti-tank guided missiles, and machine guns. They are deployed in the fire support attachments to the infantry regiment, battalion, and company. Heavy weapons for regiment uses are mostly vehicle-mounted or -towed. Medium and light weapons are carried by hand into firing positions. Some weapons in service with the Bangladesh Army, and Paramilitary Forces include:
Light weapons used by the Bangladeshi Land Forces (Army, Special Operations Forces, Bangladesh Rifles, Ansar, VDP, Rapid Action Battalion, Armed Police Battalion and Police Force) include HP-35, P226, P228, Sterling submachine gun, MP-5, UZI, Type 56 assault rifle (Chinese copy of the AK-47), AKM, AK-103, M-4 Carbine, SKS (Type 56/63), FN-FAL, H&K G3, Heckler & Koch MSG-90, G3SG/1, HK11A1, HK 21A1, MG3, DShK,Grenade Launchers, Carl Gustav M-2/M-3, M-40 recoilless rifle, Type 65 RCL, LAW, RPG-7, Type 81 Assault rifles ; and the standard issue - G3A3 Battle rifle.
Types of vehicles are active in this role commonly light off-road vehicles, utility 4x4's, tank transporters, troop carriers, water trucks, fuel tankers, and other trucks categorized into 0.5-ton, 3.5-ton, 5-ton, 7-ton, and 12-ton class according to their load capabilities, while the special purpose vehicles are mainly used as chassis for various weapon systems and equipments.
Imported vehicles usually come from various countries including Turkey, Japan, China and occasionally from India & Pakistan.Currently it has bought a large number of Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) from Turkey in order to deploy troops in the front line during the battle.
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