Bangladesh is a highly populated country with a large military and defense capability. The Bangladesh Armed Forces consists of over 500,000 personnel and is responsible for protecting the country’s territorial waters and airspace. The Armed Forces is equipped with modern military hardware including tanks, aircraft, and warships. Bangladesh also maintains close ties with its neighbors through bilateral agreements such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). In addition to this, the country has actively participated in regional security initiatives such as Exercise Sampriti which is held annually between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh is also a member of several international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), Commonwealth of Nations, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). See naturegnosis to learn more about the country of Bangladesh.
Defense
The defense is based on volunteerism and (2007) comprises about 126,000 regular troops organized in 18 brigades, 5 frigates, 44 patrol boats, 62 fighter aircraft and a semi-military reserve of 63,000 men for security (20,000 men), police ready for action (5,000 men).) and border guard (38,000 men in 63 battalions). The material is mainly of Chinese and Soviet origin. To see related acronyms about this country, please check ABBREVIATIONFINDER where you can see that BGD stands for Bangladesh.
Defense costs rose from 1.4% to 1.6% of GDP in 1985-2005. The armed opposition consists of 11 different groups with JMB, a mujahidin force of 10,000 men, the largest. Bangladesh participates in several UN peacekeeping efforts, including Congo (Kinshasa) (MUNOC), Liberia (UNMIL) and Sudan (UNMIS).
Bangladesh’s first and only airborne signal TV station, Ekushey Televisión, was threatened with closure after the Supreme Court ruled that the station’s broadcasting permit was illegal because it had not been granted under proper procedures under the Hasina government. The State Anti-Corruption Department also accused Hasina, 6 of his ministers and 5 officials of bribery and fraud. Hasina, now the leader of the opposition, called on the international community to help bring to an end what he termed as the political and religious persecution in Bangladesh.
In April 2002, the government announced the privatization of 21 state-owned enterprises, especially in the manufacture of jute, textiles, paper and oil. For various reasons, the privatization process initiated several years earlier had been very slow, and only a few of the 82 that should have been privatized had been.
- COUNTRYAAH: Do you know where is Bangladesh on the world map? Come to see the location and all bordering countries of Bangladesh.
Faced with growing violence against women, in March 2002 Parliament passed a law providing for the death penalty for attacks with sulfuric acid. In 2000-02 alone, the number of such attacks had increased by 50%. During 2001, 13,339 cases of domestic violence occurred. More than a sixfold increase in the number of 2,048 in 1995. Just as in Myanmar, Cambodia and Pakistan, men use sulfuric acid, which is cheap and easy to get, to etch and sometimes kill women and girls. The reasons may be: refusal of marriage services, domestic strife or conflict of values. During 2002, 3,189 cases of rape or mistreatment were recorded for the deaths of women or girls. This was an increase of 49 compared to the previous year. Faced with this negative development, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia made another 2 bills to curb the negative spiral.
At the same time, an increase in the slave trade was recorded. It is estimated that 5-6,000 women and children – predominantly from rural areas – are sold each year in cities in India or Pakistan. Representatives from Caritas Bangladesh declared in April 2003 that the slave trade is linked to the trade in drugs and weapons, and is also connected to politicians in Bangladesh. The main victims are the children and the very poor or stigmatized women who are victims of divorce or pregnancy outside of marriage.
On May 22, 2004, an attack on a mosque in the northeastern city of Sylhet killed 2 people and 50 others were injured. Including British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury. A bomb was thrown against the mosque at the end of the prayer.
In July, Bangladesh was ravaged by the monsoon. Severe floods hit two-thirds of the country, leaving 20 million homeless. 40% of Dhaka was flooded after the rivers crossed their banks. The slums were hit hardest. The residents went to the water, and they had to seek refuge on the rooftops. 200 died throughout the country and in some places the water level reached the maximum.
In Dhaka, people survived in improvised refuges after having to leave their homes. The sewer system collapsed and thousands of people had to undergo diarrhea. The government, aid organizations and volunteers distributed medicine, food and clothing.