Violence is breaking out in the neighboring country Bangladesh. Meanwhile, there is news that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned, although this has not been confirmed yet. A large number of protesters have entered the Prime Minister’s residence. Due to the boycott of elections, the opposition parties have destabilized the political situation.
In such a situation, the question arises whether Bangladesh will again come under the control of the army. At this time, everyone’s eyes are on the Bangladesh Army, which will either take power itself or support some other government. Let us know how powerful the Bangladesh Army is. And apart from the security of the country, how much experience does he have in running the government?
How powerful is Bangladesh’s army?
According to the Global Firepower Military Strength Ranking, it is the 37th most powerful army in the world. Global Firepower is a website that keeps an eye on the most powerful armies in the world. According to the latest report of the same website, it has about 175,000 active soldiers, and they have 281 tanks, 13,100 armored vehicles, 30 self-propelled artillery, 370 Tor artillery and 70 rocket artillery. About 30,000 members of the Navy are also involved.
What is the defense budget of Bangladesh?
Bangladesh’s defense budget is the third largest in South Asia, after India and Pakistan, and it spends $3.8 billion annually. According to the latest ranking of Global Firepower Military Strength, Bangladesh Army is the third most powerful in South Asia.
how many soldiers are there in the army
The report says Bangladesh’s army has 160,000 active soldiers and also includes paramilitary forces like Border Guard Bangladesh and Coast Guard. Bangladesh’s defense budget is also continuously moving towards modernization and expansion. The Bangladesh Army plays a significant role in UN peacekeeping missions, deploying more than 7,000 personnel around the world.
The Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh is General Wakar-uz-Zaman, who assumed office on 23 June 2024. The military has a complex relationship with the government and has a history of intervening during political crises.
When did coups occur in Bangladesh, when did the army take command?
Since 1975, the Bangladeshi army has staged several coups. For the first time in 1975, the Mujib government was removed through a coup, and the army ruled until 1990. Even when Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2009, she had the support of the army. At present, the situation in Bangladesh is unstable and possible intervention of the army could change the balance of power.