Bangladesh Rifles

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". The glorious history of the organization is replete with rich traditions and successful military expeditions. The British had first organized the Ramgarh Local Battalion in 1795 by drawing from the sons of this soil. 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 numerous military operations displaying their courage, discipline and patriotism. 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. The organization is proud of its contribution tow the attainment of independence and sovereignty of the Bangladeshi nation: its members earned many gallantry awards. Of them, 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.

History

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:

*First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) - as Ramgarh Local Rifles
*Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852-1853) - as Ramgarh Local Rifles
*Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885-1886) - as Frontier Guards-
*Anglo-Kuki or Anglo-Manipur War (1891) - as Bengal Military Police
*Second World War - Burma Campaign (1943-44) - as Eastern Frontier Rifles
*First Indo-Pak War (1948) - as East Pakistan Rifles
*Second Indo-Pak War (1965) - as E.P.R.
*Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) - as Bangladesh Rifles
*Chittagong Hill Tracts Counter-Insurgency War (1976-1997) - as BDR
*2001 Indian-Bangladeshi border conflict - as BDR

Liberation War & BDR

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.

The Indomitable War Heroes of BDR

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’ from BDR

Bir Srestho Shahid Lance NayakMunshi Abdur Rouf

Bir Srestho Shahid Lance NayakNoor Mohammad Sheikh

List of Bir Uttam

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

List of Bir Bikrom

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

List of Bir Protik

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

Gallantry awards

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.

Mission

To protect, defend and safeguard the border of Bangladesh and prevent smuggling.

the Rifles' Activities include:
*Border protection.
*Anti-smuggling work.
*Coming to the aid of civil and military authorities as directed by the government.
*Presently conducting "Operation Dal Bhat" to fight back the price hike of daily essential commodities.

Organisation

*Director-General (DG), Bangladesh Rifles: Major General Shakil Ahmed, psc,
*Deputy Director-General (DDG), Bangladesh Rifles: Brigadier General Mohammad Abdul Bari, ndc, psc
*Director (Operations and Training): Colonel Abdul Halim Khan, psc,G
*Director Administration : Colonel Syed Kabirul Haque
*Sector Commander, Dhaka Sector: Colonel Mujibul Haque

Resources

Infantry Weapons

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.

Logistical Vehicles

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.

ee also

*Bangladesh Army
*Bangladesh Navy
*Bangladesh Air Force
* [http://www.bdr.gov.bd BDR home page]

References