Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Wartime ORBAT Integration – 2025 Update
🇧🇩 Bangladesh Army Wartime ORBAT Overview (2025)
Total Active-Duty Military Personnel: ~300,000
Total Strength (including civilian + trainees): ~340,000
Corps-Level Structure and Purpose:
- I Corps (Western Command) – HQ: Bogura
Purpose: Defend the western and northwestern borders with India, secure key urban centers and river crossings, launch counteroffensives into vulnerable border corridors. - II Corps (Central-Eastern Command) – HQ: Sylhet
Purpose: Secure the northeastern sector, ensure rapid reinforcement to Dhaka and Brahmanbaria fronts, control major highways and logistical chokepoints. - III Corps (Southeastern Command) – HQ: Chattogram
Purpose: Defend against incursions through the southeastern hills and coastal areas, control the port of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, conduct mountain and littoral operations.
Major Combat Divisions and Roles:
- 7 ID – Barishal: Reserve and rear-area security for Cumilla sector, reinforcement pool for II Corps.
- 9 ID – Savar: Strategic reserve, capital defense, force projection into central theater.
- 10 ID – Ramu: Secures Myanmar border, conducts counterinsurgency and amphibious support in Cox’s Bazar region.
- 11 ID – Bogura: Northwestern maneuver force, responsible for mobile defense along the Teesta basin.
- 17 ID – Sylhet: Defensive shield for northeastern border, terrain dominance in tea plantation and forest zones.
- 19 ID – Ghatail: Reinforces II Corps flanks, controls north-central access routes.
- 24 ID – Chattogram: Mountain warfare specialists, CHT operations, counter-guerilla doctrine.
- 33 ID – Cumilla: Central-eastern border control, expands into a mechanized force by 2026.
- 55 ID – Jashore: Guards southwestern industrial corridor and Benapole transit route.
- 66 ID – Rangpur: Protects northern salient, reserve for northwestern offensive actions.
- 77 ID – Rajbari: Reserve for strategic depth and rapid mobility across the central riverine terrain.
- 88 ID – Noakhali: Coastal defense of Meghna estuary and southern delta.
Specialised and Support Formations – Roles & Purpose:
- Para Commando Brigade (Sylhet): Strategic strike, direct action, deep reconnaissance, counterterrorism.
- Para Infantry Brigade: Air-mobile light infantry for rapid reaction and airborne insertions.
- Mechanized Brigade (33 Mech Bde): Shock maneuver, armored-infantry coordination, held in central reserve.
- Armoured Brigade (93 Armd Bde): Heavy armor support for I Corps, breakthrough and exploitation.
- Army Aviation Command: Tactical mobility, MEDEVAC, recon, and air assault capability.
- Air Defence Command: Defends key HQs, installations, and bridges from aerial threats.
- Combat Engineer Command: Bridge-building, breaching, EOD, fortification.
- Engineer Construction Command: Permanent works and field fortifications, roads.
- Riverine Engineer Units: Amphibious mobility, barge/raft bridge establishment, river crossing ops.
- Army Signals, Medical, Ordnance, Supply & Transport, Cyber Security Units: Comprehensive C4ISR and logistics framework.
🪖 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Structure & Integration
Total Strength (2025): ~70,000 personnel
Organization:
- HQ: Pilkhana, Dhaka
- 16 BGB Regions
- 70+ BGB Sectors
- 80+ BGB Battalions
Each BGB Battalion controls:
- ~700–800 troops
- ~15–20 Border Outposts (BOPs)
🔗 Wartime Integration of BGB into Army ORBAT
Doctrine:
- BGB battalions shift to Army Corps and Divisional operational control during war.
- Tasked with forward defense, border skirmishes, and terrain delay operations.
- Key function: early warning, holding, recon, and securing Army rear.
🟩 I CORPS – Western Sector (HQ: Bogura)
| Army Division | AO | BGB Region(s) | BGB Bns Assigned | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 ID – Bogura | North Bengal | Rangpur Region | 4 | Defensive depth, flank guard, terrain denial across northwest |
| 66 ID – Rangpur | NW Border | Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh | 4 | Border security, force staging for counter-thrusts |
| 55 ID – Jashore | SW Border | Jashore, Khulna Regions | 5 | Industrial corridor defense, denial of corridor to Khulna |
| 88 ID – Kushtia | W Border | Rajshahi Region | 4 | Border containment and holding operations |
🟦 II CORPS – Central & Northeastern Sector (HQ: Sylhet)
| Army Division | AO | BGB Region(s) | BGB Bns Assigned | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 ID – Sylhet | Northeast Border | Sylhet Region | 3 | Highland defense, recon & delay force |
| 19 ID – Ghatail | Mymensingh, Netrokona | Mymensingh Region | 2 | Bridge and riverine sector denial |
| 7 ID – Barishal | Cumilla/Brahmanbaria AO | Cumilla Region | 3 | Rear reinforcement staging, canal line defense |
| 33 ID – Cumilla | Central-Eastern border | Brahmanbaria Region | 3 | Border defense, infiltration interdiction |
🟥 III CORPS – Southeastern Front (HQ: Chattogram)
| Army Division | AO | BGB Region(s) | BGB Bns Assigned | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 ID – Chattogram | Chittagong Hill Tracts | Khagrachari, Bandarban | 4 | Mountain ops, hill warfare, counter-guerilla |
| 10 ID – Ramu | Cox’s Bazar Area | Cox’s Bazar Region | 3 | Border control, refugee corridor interdiction |
| 88 ID – Noakhali | Coast/Islands/Delta | Noakhali, Lakshmipur | 3 | Littoral security, island garrisoning |
🟨 Strategic, Capital Defence, and Reserve BGB Units
| Area | Region | BGB Bns | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka | Dhaka Region | 2 | National HQ and installation defense |
| Barisal | Barisal Region | 1 | Coastal surveillance |
| Rajbari | Central Rear | 1 | Strategic rail & bridge zone |
| Training/Reserve | Various | 5–6 | Training, reinforcement pool |
⚔️ Operational Roles of BGB (Wartime)
| Role | Description | Assigned Formation |
|---|---|---|
| Screening & Delay | First contact, terrain holding, canal ambushes | Divisional forward units |
| Terrain Guidance | Recon, civilian route use, hill/marsh access | Infantry Brigades |
| Rear Area Security | Installations, logistics convoys | Logistics, Line of Comm. Units |
| Intel & Surveillance | Human intel, UAV/BOP network, SIGINT relays | Corps and Div HQs |
| Holding Action | Light defensive engagement, terrain denial | Border & sector units |
📊 Summary
- 50+ BGB battalions allocated to active Corps-level formations.
- Remaining force held in reserve, national defense, and internal duties.
- BGB plays a terrain-dominance and delay-centric role with emphasis on layered defense.
- Each Infantry Division has direct BGB sector alignment based on proximity and topography.
Sources:
- Bangladesh Army Official Website
- Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Official Site
- Wikipedia – Bangladesh Army and BGB pages (2024/2025 versions)
- Verified Defense Publications (Janes, SIPRI, DSCAF, Bangla Tribune)
📦 Wartime Table of Equipment (TOE) – Bangladesh Army
🔸 Infantry Division (Standard TOE)
- 3 Infantry Brigades (each with 3 infantry battalions)
- 1 Field Artillery Regiment
- 1 Air Defence Battery
- 1 Combat Engineer Battalion
- 1 Signals Company
- 1 Reconnaissance Company
- 1 Logistics & Support Battalion (ordnance, supply, transport)
- Attached BGB battalions (2–4 depending on region)
- Total strength: ~15,000–17,000
🔸 Mechanized Infantry Division (33 ID model)
- 2 Mechanized Brigades (equipped with APCs/IFVs)
- 1 Armoured Regiment (MBTs, Recon Vehicles)
- 1 Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment
- 1 Engineer Combat Group
- 1 Signals Battalion
- 1 Air Defence Battery (mobile)
- Aviation liaison team
- Total strength: ~18,000–20,000
🔸 Para Infantry Division (Light Air-Mobile Configuration)
- 2 Para Infantry Brigades (light, high-mobility battalions)
- 1 Artillery Regiment (towed/airlifted)
- 1 Air Defence Platoon
- 1 Pathfinder/Recon Company
- 1 Combat Engineer Company
- Helicopter support from Army Aviation
- Total strength: ~11,000–13,000
🔸 Para Commando Brigade (Special Operations)
- 3 Para Commando Battalions
- 1 Signal & Recon Support Company
- 1 Mobility Troop (motorized)
- 1 Engineer Demolitions Platoon
- 1 Medical Detachment
- Joint operation cell with Air Force & Navy
- Total strength: ~3,000–3,200
🔸 Corps-Level Artillery Brigade (e.g., I Corps)
- 3 Artillery Regiments (2 towed, 1 MRL/SP)
- 1 Target Acquisition Battery
- 1 UAV Surveillance Troop
🔸 Corps-Level Air Defence Assets
- 1 Air Defence Regiment (Short & Medium-range systems)
- 1 Radar Troop
- 1 Signals Coordination Team
🔸 Army Aviation Command
- 2 Aviation Squadrons (Utility & Light Transport Helicopters)
- 1 UAV Recon Flight
- 1 Maintenance & Support Detachment
- 1 Medical Evacuation Flight
🪖 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Wartime TOE
🔸 BGB Battalion
- 3 Rifle Companies
- 1 Mortar Platoon (60mm)
- 1 Signals Platoon
- 1 Transport Section
- 1 Intel/Recon Section
- Strength: 800+ troops
🔸 BGB Sector HQ
- 4–6 BGB Battalions
- Signals Company
- Liaison Officer (Army coordination)
- Mobile Surveillance Element (UAV/sensor teams)
🔸 BGB Region
- 2–4 Sector HQs
- Logistic and supply base
- Strategic reserve or internal security battalion
- BGB Aviation Wing (Mi-171E medium-heavy helicopters)