Bangladesh Military Academy

Last updated

Bangladesh Military Academy
বাংলাদেশ মিলিটারি একাডেমি
Bangladesh Military Academy Monogram.svg
Motto
চির উন্নত মম শির
Motto in English
Ever High is My Head
Type Military Academy
Established1974;50 years ago (1974)
Affiliation
Dean Brig Gen Kamal Mamun,BAMS, ndc, psc, G
DirectorBrig Gen Md Luftor Rahman, psc,PhD
CommandantMajor General Abu Mohammad Sarwar Farid, ndc, afwc, psc
Academic staff
600–700 (both civilian and military)
Undergraduates 1,550–1,600
Location
Bhatiary, Chittagong
,
Bangladesh

22°25′24″N91°45′10″E / 22.42333°N 91.75278°E / 22.42333; 91.75278
Campus Suburb, 1,850 acres (750 ha)
Colours Red and green
  
Website bma.army.mil.bd
Colours contingent in the passing out parade Colours Contingent of BMA.jpg
Colours contingent in the passing out parade

Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) [1] is the military training institute for the officer cadets of Bangladesh Army. It is located in Bhatiary, near Chittagong Hill Tracts, in the Chittagong District of south-east Bangladesh, about 13 kilometers north of Chittagong. The academy is situated on the slopes of the Sitakunda hill ranges and the shore of the Bay of Bengal. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Following the independence of Bangladesh with the break-up of Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Bangladesh Military Academy was established in January 1974 for training the officers of the Army. The Military Academy was opened by the initiative of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. [4] [5] The academy was initially raised at Cumilla Cantonment on 29 November 1973 and later relocated to Bhatiari, Chattogram in 1976. The academy was awarded the National Standard in 1979.

The Bangladesh Military Academy provides training to the officers of the Bangladesh Army. From 1983, the officers of the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force must take three months training from the academy. [6] [7]

The academy chose a verse by national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Chiro Unnata Momo Shir (translation: ever high is my head) as its motto. Regular long courses commenced from 1978. The first batch of officers of Bangladesh Army graduated from the academy on 11 January 1975.

Officer Cadet (Khaki Ceremonial Dress) Gentleman Cadet Zyeem.png
Officer Cadet (Khaki Ceremonial Dress)

Selection

Entrants must be higher secondary school graduates. [8] They must be at least 160 centimetres (63 in) tall, weigh at least 49.8 kilograms (110 lb), and be unmarried. [9] Selection is highly competitive. Candidates must undergo a rigorous investigation of their background and educational performance, a complete physical exam, an initial interview, a written test, and an intensive three day examination/interview. [10] The selection process is intended to be non-political. Overwhelmingly, those accepted are disinterested in or disdainful of politics. [11]

The majority of cadets are from middle class or lower middle class families. [12] Eighty percent have rural origins. [13] Most, however, attended well-regarded urban schools or cadet colleges. [11]

Foreign officers regularly attend one-year courses at the academy. [14] In 2019, about ten percent of the graduating class were from abroad, mostly from Saudi Arabia. [15]

Training

Adjutant in the passing out parade Adjt BMA.jpg
Adjutant in the passing out parade

BMA provides military and academic training and character building. The academy primarily trains men and women to be commissioned into the Bangladesh Army. In addition, the academy conducts and orientation course for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) officers, officer cadets and midshipmen of the Bangladesh Air Force and Navy respectively, and Pre-Commission Training for professor/teacher under-officers of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC). Long Course cadets graduating from this academy fall under Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) curriculum. The academy has the intention of fostering and inculcating those attributes in an Officer Cadet (OC) which will ensure his continuous and progressive development as a regular officer in the Bangladesh Army, and developing future officers for the Bangladesh Army by training the Officer Cadets in a way that they can make decisions as and when required by the military profession.

Assault course X-ing obs in aslt course grd of bma.jpg
Assault course

Training course

The training courses run at BMA are as follow:

Outdoor exercise Cdts in the qut door ex.jpg
Outdoor exercise
Cadet's boxing competition Boxing of 65 LC (zauad and sabbir).jpg
Cadet's boxing competition

Academic training

This training is mainly conducted to prepare the cadets of long courses for qualifying in the Bachelor of Arts (BA)/ Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Pass Course) examinations. From 67 BMA Long Course there will be a common degree. That is Bachelor of Defence Studies (BDS). From 75 BMA Long Course there are 8 subjects to study: International relations, BBA, Economics, Physics, Computer Science, & Engineering, Electrical, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering. The academic training also aimed at developing communication skill both in English and Bangla through oral and written expression, create awareness of current national, regional and international affairs, widen mental horizon and sense of reasoning.

Riding Club Riding club.JPG
Riding Club
Cadet's para jump BPC 01.jpg
Cadet's para jump

Publications

BMA has two publications namely CHIRO UNNOTO MOMO SHIR (EVER HIGH IS MY HEAD) is BMA magazine and PADAKHKHEP (ONWARD MARCH) a professional journal. Both the publications published once in a year.

Affiliation

The academy provides a three-year academic programme combined with intense military training. It is affiliated with the Bangladesh University of Professionals and provides 4-year bachelor's degrees. Every cadet has to study Military Science in this institution. They have to learn every thing practically.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Armed Forces are the military forces of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. They consist of the three uniformed military services: the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Navy and the Bangladesh Air Force. The Armed Forces are under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Defence of the Government of Bangladesh, and are directly administered by the Armed Forces Division of the Prime Minister's Office. The President of Bangladesh serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh has the third-largest defence budget in South Asia and according to the Global Firepower index, The Bangladeshi military is the 37th strongest in the world and the third most powerful military force in South Asia. Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs during peacetime, but during wartime they fall under the command of Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barisal Division</span> Division of Bangladesh

Barisal Division is one of the eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. Located in the south-central part of the country, it has an area of 13,644.85 km2 (5,268.31 sq mi), and a population of 9,100,102 at the 2011 Census. It is the least populous Division in Bangladesh. It is bounded by Dhaka Division on the north, the Bay of Bengal on the south, Chittagong Division on the east and Khulna Division on the west. The administrative capital, Barisal city, lies in the Padma River delta on an offshoot of the Arial Khan River. Barisal division is criss-crossed by numerous rivers that earned it the nickname Dhan-Nodi-Khal, Ei tin-e Borishal.

Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani, was a Bengali military leader. Osmani's career spanned five decades, beginning with service in the British Indian Army in 1939. He fought in the Burma Campaign during World War II. After the partition of India in 1947, he joined the Pakistan Army and served in the East Bengal Regiment, retiring as a colonel in 1967. Osmani joined the Provisional Government of Bangladesh in 1971 as the commander-in-chief of the nascent Bangladesh Forces. Regarded as the founder of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, Osmani retired as a four-star general from the Bangladesh Army in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Jackpot</span> Battle of the Bangladesh Liberation War

Operation Jackpot was a codename for three operations undertaken by the Bengali Mukti Bahini in former East Pakistan against the Federation of Pakistan at the climax of the Bangladesh Liberation War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of Bangladesh</span> Overview of the process of militarization in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's military history is intertwined with the history of a larger region, including present-day India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. The country was historically part of Bengal – a major power in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Naval Academy</span>

The Bangladesh Naval Academy is a military academy for the officer cadets of Bangladesh Navy. It is situated at the mouth of the Karnaphuli river at Patenga, Chittagong District, Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh University of Professionals</span> Armed forces university in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh University of Professionals is a public university in Bangladesh, located in Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka. It is the University of Bangladesh affiliated with University Grant Commission. It was established under the Bangladesh University of Professionals Act, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh National Cadet Corps</span> Volunteer reserve force

The Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) is a tri-services volunteer reserve defence force comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force wing for school, college and university students. It is the second line of defence headed by Bangladesh Army.

The Crack Platoon was a special commando team of the Mukti Bahini. which was formed in 1971, during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was formed by young members of the Mukti Bahini, which carried out commando operations in Dhaka and it's surroundings and led by Major Khaled Mosharraf. The commandos were mostly students and civilians, who received guerrilla training later in the training camps for Mukti Bahini and then engaged in battle against the Pakistani Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khwaja Wasiuddin</span>

Khwaja Wasiuddin (1920–1992) was an army general and diplomat. He started his career as a young officer in the British Indian Army and later became a senior general in Pakistan Army. He was the permanent representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aziz Ahmed (general)</span> Former Bangladeshi army chief

Aziz Ahmed is a retired Bangladeshi four star general who was Chief of Army Staff (CAS) of the Bangladesh Army, from 25 June 2018 to 24 June 2021. He was succeeded by General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed on 24 June 2021.

Abul Hossain, ndc, psc, is a retired three-star rank Bangladesh Army officer. He was a lieutenant general. He served as the director general of Border Guards Bangladesh. Before that he served as military secretary to President Md Abdul Hamid and as Engineer-in-chief at Army Headquarters, Commandant of Military Institute of Science and Technology, Chief Engineer of Dhaka City Corporation, Director of Special Works Organization and Director of Works & Chief Engineer of the Bangladesh Army. He was also ex-officio Chairman of Shimanto Bank which is a sister concern of BGB Welfare Trust.

S M Matiur Rahman OSP (BAR), SUP, afwc, psc, is a retired three-star-rank Bangladesh Army officer, a lieutenant general. He was general officer commanding, Army Training and Doctrine Command, Mymensingh Cantonment. Prior to join ARTDOC, he was GOC of 24 Infantry Division and area commander of Chattogram area. Earlier, he was adjutant general of the Bangladesh Army. He was also vice chairman of Trust Bank's board of directors. He served as general officer commanding (GOC) of 55 Infantry Division & Area Commander of Jessore Area. He also served as the director of Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Bureau (CTIB) of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. He served as commander of 46th Independent Infantry Brigade. He also served as additional director general (operations) of the Rapid Action Battalion.

Mohammad Saiful Abedin, BSP, ndc, psc is a retired major general in the Bangladesh Army. He was General officer commanding (GOC) of the 24th Infantry Division and Area Commander, Chattogram Area. He is the former director general of DGFI. He previously served as Commandant of Defence Services Command & Staff College (DSCSC). He was also the Commandant of Bangladesh Infantry Regimental Centre (BIRC). He also served in 71 Mechanized Brigade as Commander.

Sheikh Abu Naser (1928–1975) was a Bangladeshi politician and the only brother of the first President of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was the uncle of the present Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.

Sarwar Hossain is a retired Bangladeshi major general who was former Military Secretary to the President of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SM Shafiuddin Ahmed</span> 17th Army chief of Bangladesh

Sheikh Mohammad Shafiuddin Ahmed is a four star general of the Bangladesh Army and the current Chief of Army Staff (CAS) of the Bangladesh Army since June 2021. Prior to his appointment as CAS, he served as the quartermaster general (QMG) of Bangladesh Army as a lieutenant general. In his 40 year long military career he has also served as director general of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Director of Military Training (DMT), besides commanding an infantry brigade and an infantry division.

SM Kamrul Hassan is a two-star general of the Bangladesh Army. As Major General he is currently appointed as Senior Directing Staff at National Defence College, prior to that he was the Commandant of Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) and also commanded the 66th Infantry Division and Rangpur Area, as General-Officer-Commanding (GOC). He was commissioned in the East Bengal Regiment with the 21st BMA Long Course as the top cadet in weapons training.

Aminul Karim is a retired lieutenant general of the Bangladesh Army. He served as the military secretary to the president of Bangladesh, Iajuddin Ahmed. He was a senior research fellow at the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya.

References

  1. ↑ "General Dalbir Singh Suhag Meets Bangladesh Army Chief to Boost Military Ties". NDTV. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "UN appoints Bangladeshi as force commander of Cyprus peacekeeping mission". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bangladesh 'fully committed' to UN peacekeeping as vital element of global peace and security – UN Force Commander". UN News. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Consider '71 spirit in giving promotion". The Daily Star. 24 July 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  5. ↑ "Resist evil forces, PM to army men". The Daily Star. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  6. ↑ "Bangladesh Military Academy". Banglapedia. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "History of BMA". bma.army.mil.bd.
  8. ↑ Hossain, Golam (1991). Civil-Military Relations in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study. Dhaka: Academic Press. p. 59. ISBN   984-08-0045-0.
  9. ↑ C. Makeig, Douglas (1989). "National Security". In Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert (eds.). Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 230.
  10. ↑ Hossain, Golam (1991). Civil-Military Relations in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study. Dhaka: Academic Press. pp. 58, 62. ISBN   984-08-0045-0.
  11. 1 2 Hossain, Golam (1991). Civil-Military Relations in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study. Dhaka: Academic Press. p. 58. ISBN   984-08-0045-0.
  12. ↑ Hossain, Golam (1991). Civil-Military Relations in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study. Dhaka: Academic Press. p. 61. ISBN   984-08-0045-0.
  13. ↑ Hossain, Golam (1991). Civil-Military Relations in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study. Dhaka: Academic Press. pp. 59–60. ISBN   984-08-0045-0.
  14. ↑ C. Makeig, Douglas (1989). "National Security". In Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert (eds.). Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 227.
  15. ↑ "Govt to make Military Academy international standard: PM". The Business Standard. 29 December 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.