Strategic Rationale for Raising a New Infantry Division in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Reading Time: 7 minutes The Bangladesh Army’s recent proposal to establish over 250 new camps across the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) marks a significant evolution in Dhaka’s approach to securing one of the country’s most sensitive and strategically vital regions. With each camp requiring approximately 32 personnel, this expansion translates to around 8,000 additional troops — the equivalent of roughly two infantry brigades. While this increase would strengthen local security and improve response capability, it also highlights the pressing need for a permanent, long-term force structure tailored specifically to the CHT’s unique terrain and security challenges. Short-Term Adjustments and Force Redeployment In the immediate term, the Army could only meet the manpower requirement through internal redeployment. Elements from existing formations across Bangladesh would need to be reassigned to the hill districts of Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. While feasible as a temporary measure, such redistribution risks diluting troop concentrations in other