National Defence College (Bangladesh)

National Defence College

Seal of the National Defence College
Abbreviation	NDC
Formation	1996
Type	War college
Headquarters	Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Location	Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka
Region served	Bangladesh
Official language	Bengali, English
Commandant	Lt Gen Mohammad Shaheenul Haque
Affiliations	Armed Forces Division
Website	ndc.gov.bd

The National Defence College (abbreviated as NDC) is a Bangladeshi self degree awarding, state-owned institution for the strategic training of civil and military officers. It is located in the Mirpur Cantonment in Dhaka, Bangladesh. ^{[1] [2]}

History

Graduate officers of 'National Defence Course 2024' taking part in a photo session with CA Muhammad Yunus.

The college was established on 7 December 1996 and started its operations on 10 January 1999. ^[1] The college runs three courses: National Defence Course, Armed Forces War Course and Capstone Course. ^[3]

The aim of the National Defence Course (ND Course) is to prepare selected senior officers of the armed forces, the civil services and the allied countries for taking on roles which are national security and development. Meanwhile, the Capstone Course on national security and strategic studies is designed to enhance knowledge, skills and networks of course members ^[3]

Armed Forces War College

Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus awarded certificates to graduate officers of the 'National Defence Course 2024' and 'Armed Forces War Course 2024' at the National Defence College.

Armed Forces War College was established in 2001 under the National Defence College. It is headed by the Commandant of the National Defence College. ^[4]

It offers the Armed Forces War Course (AFWC), which is a joint services course which focuses on operational level planning and conduct of war. The 44-weeks Course is divided into four terms. Each term is of 10 to 12 weeks. ^[3]

List of Commandants

Sl No.	Name	Term start	Term end	Unit of Commission
1	Major General Abul Muneem Mansur Ahmed	10 January 1999	20 February 2000	East Bengal Regiment
2	Major General Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury	1 March 2000	31 December 2000	Frontier Force Regiment (PA)
3	Major General Abu Kaisar Fazlul Kabir	14 January 2001	26 November 2001	Corps of Engineers
4	Major General Jiban Kanai Das	10 January 2002	16 January 2003	East Bengal Regiment
5	Major General Aminul Karim	4 February 2003	1 January 2004	Regiment of Artillery
6	Lieutenant General Zahirul Alam	4 January 2004	12 June 2008	East Bengal Regiment
7	Lieutenant General Aminul Karim	15 June 2008	12 March 2009	Regiment of Artillery
8	Lieutenant General Sina Ibn Jamali	14 May 2009	31 October 2009	East Bengal Regiment
9	Major General A. K. M. Muzahid Uddin	1 November 2009	23 June 2011	Corps of Engineers
10	Lieutenant General Mollah Fazle Akbar	24 June 2011	16 February 2015	Regiment of Artillery
11	Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy	17 February 2015	31 May 2018	East Bengal Regiment
12	Lieutenant General Sheikh Mamun Khaled	11 August 2018	31 October 2020	Corps of Signals
13	Lieutenant General Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan	30 November 2020	13 January 2021	Bangladesh Infantry Regiment
14	Lieutenant General Akbar Hossain	14 January 2021	10 November 2023	Regiment of Artillery
15	Lieutenant General Saiful Alam	11 February 2024	6 August 2024	East Bengal Regiment
16	Lieutenant General Mohammad Shaheenul Haque	6 August 2024	present	East Bengal Regiment

Notable alumni

• Lieutenant general Tukur Yusuf Buratai the Chief of Staff Nigerian Army (2015–2021). ^{[5] [6]}
• Air Marshal Jasjit Singh Kler VM, Director General (Inspection and Safety) of Indian Air Force. ^[7]
• Colonel Ismaon Zainie, Chief of Staff of the Joint Force Headquarters of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces ^[8]
• Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler, VSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command, Indian Army ^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• Defence Services Command and Staff College (Bangladesh)
• Bangladesh University of Professionals

References

1. Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "National Defence College". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN   984-32-0576-6. OCLC   52727562. OL   30677644M . Retrieved 3 November 2025.
2. "Bangladesh NDC Student Officers Receive Updates during Visit to Army Headquarters". Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
3. "National Defence College (NDC) | Armed Forces Division(AFD)". afd.gov.bd. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
4. Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Armed Forces War College". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN   984-32-0576-6. OCLC   52727562. OL   30677644M . Retrieved 3 November 2025.
5. Buari, Jasmine (13 July 2015). "10 Facts About Chief of Army Staff General Buratai" . Retrieved 5 November 2016.
6. Fernando, Shashini. "Funeral of Late Major General K.J.Wijetilleke today at Borella" . Retrieved 5 November 2016.
7. "Air Marshall Jasjit Singh Kler take over as DG (Inspection and Safety), IAF" . Retrieved 5 November 2016.
8. "Directorate of Force Capability Development". 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2024.