Bangladesh’s Gulf War Spoils: Tanks, Artillery and Armoured Vehicles

Reading Time: 2 minutes The 1991 Gulf War is often remembered for its vast multinational coalition and the liberation of Kuwait, but a lesser-known chapter of military history lies in Bangladesh’s contribution—and the tangible legacy it left in the form of captured Iraqi equipment. While Bangladesh did not deploy frontline combat troops, its more than 2,000-strong Bangladesh Military Contingent in Kuwait (BMCK) played a crucial role in post-conflict stabilisation. Engineers, medical personnel, and support units were tasked with clearing mines, neutralising unexploded ordnance, and restoring essential infrastructure across the war-ravaged country. During these operations, Bangladeshi forces came across abandoned Iraqi military hardware. The retreating Iraqi Army had left behind tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery, and small arms scattered across Kuwait. In recognition of Bangladesh’s contribution to the coalition’s success, the Kuwaiti government officially authorised the transfer of a portion of this matériel to the Bangladesh Army, effectively providing a rare