Bangladesh Police Emerges as Major Client of Glock 17 Gen 4 Sidearms

Reading Time: 3 minutes Over the past four years, the Bangladesh Police has undertaken a significant programme to modernise its small-arms inventory, emerging as a major client of the Glock 17 Gen 4 9mm pistol. This initiative forms a cornerstone of the force’s broader effort to standardise equipment, improve operational effectiveness, and enhance preparedness for a wide range of security challenges. From routine urban patrols to specialised counter-terrorism operations, the need for reliable, durable, and versatile sidearms has become increasingly critical in Bangladesh’s evolving security landscape. The repeated procurements and potential involvement of the United States in supplying additional units under counter-terrorism assistance highlight not only the operational importance of the Glock platform but also its role as a strategic marker of growing Bangladesh–US defence and security cooperation, a relationship that continues to expand quietly yet significantly behind the scenes. Procurement Timeline and Financial Overview Bangladesh Police’s Glock acquisition programme