Bangladesh widens arc of military ties, looks at US, EU for modern tech, arms

In an important military-strategic development impacting India, Bangladesh is widening its arc of military cooperation in its quest for modern technology, besides seeking additional lethal arms, land attack weapons, helicopters, fighter jets, drones and warships.

Other than China and Pakistan, Dhaka is in talks with the US for equipment. The European Union, for the first time, posted a defence attache to Dhaka in December. Bangladesh is also steadfast in operationalising a security agreement with Japan inked in November 2023.

Italy, Türkiye, France and Sweden are other countries with which Dhaka is in touch for its military needs. Indian security agencies monitoring Bangladesh have informed the government about the military-related changes being done by the Mohd Yunus-headed interim government in Dhaka.

Adding more force, muscle

• Bangladesh is looking at US ‘black hawk’ helicopters and targeting acquisition of counter-UAV systems from ‘western suppliers’
• Dhaka also plans to join the ‘EU security framework’ for its air force; for its immediate needs, it plans to buy Chinese J-10C jets
• Italy, Türkiye, France and Sweden are other countries with which Dhaka is in touch to fulfil its ambitious military requirements

All these developments have happened after the exit of Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina who left the country on August 5 last year amid street protests. In February, Bangladesh Navy is set to join a multi-nation exercise ‘Aman’ hosted by Pakistan. The same month, the Pakistan army will be part of a training module at Mymensingh in north-eastern Bangladesh – a first since 1971.

India’s eastern neighbour hiked the defence budget by 11 per cent for the present fiscal ending June 30, 2025. The budget is now Taka 42,315 crore (approximately $3.6 billion). This is 5 per cent of the country’s overall budget.

Additional allocations target new corps formation and cantonment establishment. The Bangladesh navy is targeting to get 12 new warships and is seeking a foreign partner to make these ships in Bangladesh. China, which is building ships in Pakistan, is expected to step in.