The Bangladesh Army is moving to significantly expand the country’s indigenous defence-manufacturing capacity with the development of a new arms and military-equipment production facility at the former Jalil Textile Mills in Bhatiary, Chattogram.
On 27 August, 54.99 acres of the closed textile-mill complex were formally handed over by the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) to the Bangladesh Army for expansion of the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory (BOF). The facility is intended to become a modern defence-manufacturing hub and will complement BOF’s existing production infrastructure in Gazipur.
Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the new facility is intended to support Bangladesh’s own defence requirements while creating the potential to export arms and military equipment. The location also offers an important logistical advantage because of its proximity to Chattogram’s maritime infrastructure.
Towards a Technology-Driven Defence Industry
The initiative forms part of a broader government objective to transform Bangladesh’s defence sector from a primarily domestic supply function into a modern, technology-driven and production-oriented industry.
Commerce, Industry, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said Bangladesh needs to adapt to the rapid technological changes shaping modern warfare and develop an industrial base capable of taking advantage of international export opportunities. He identified the expansion of BOF as an important component of increasing national defence-production capacity.
The government has also highlighted the potential for the expanding defence sector to generate employment while increasing domestic production capacity.
From Self-Reliance to Exports
The significance of the project extends beyond simply producing more weapons domestically. A successful expansion could allow Bangladesh to progressively develop a broader defence-industrial ecosystem encompassing manufacturing, technology acquisition, skilled manpower and eventually exports.
For the Bangladesh Army, increased domestic production can also reduce dependence on overseas suppliers for selected categories of equipment and ammunition, while providing greater control over supply during periods of international disruption.
However, becoming a competitive defence exporter will require more than factory capacity. Technology transfer, investment, research and development, quality control, international certification and an efficient export-approval framework will be critical to converting the government’s ambition into actual export capability.
BDMilitary Assessment
The 54.99-acre BOF expansion is potentially one of Bangladesh’s more significant defence-industrial developments in recent years.
The immediate importance is the creation of additional manufacturing capacity. The longer-term significance lies in the government’s stated ambition to build a technology-driven, production-oriented and export-capable defence industry.
The project should therefore be monitored closely for announcements concerning new production lines, foreign technology partnerships, technology-transfer agreements, R&D facilities, investment levels and the first export contracts.
If these elements materialise, the Chattogram facility could become an important step in Bangladesh’s gradual transition from defence-equipment importer towards a more self-reliant defence producer and selective exporter.
Amit Bhattacharya is a leading defence procurement expert with deep expertise in modern weapon systems and military hardware acquisition. Over more than a decade, he has collaborated with top defence contractors and strategic research institutions, delivering incisive analysis on procurement frameworks, capability development, and technology integration for armed forces worldwide. Amit bridges the gap between operational requirements and industrial capacity, providing authoritative evaluations of modernisation programmes, defence budgets, and acquisition reforms in both established and emerging defence markets. He leads the Defence Procurement and Defence Industry sections at BDMilitary, shaping strategic discourse on defence innovation. Amit earned his Master of Policy and Governance (MPAG) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, complementing his practical expertise with advanced policy and governance insight.
