Ideal Defence Policy for Bangladesh by 2040

Reading Time: 3 minutes A robust and forward-looking defence policy for Bangladesh must be grounded in its strategic geography, population density, economic aspirations, and regional security threats. Learning from the doctrinal paths of Israel, Vietnam, South Korea, and Indonesia, Bangladesh can formulate a policy tailored to both national resilience and power projection. ⚖️ Core Defence Principles for Bangladesh Defensive Realism with Offensive CapabilityBangladesh should adopt a posture of strategic restraint, whilst retaining the capability to deter or respond decisively through conventional and asymmetric means. Strategic Autonomy with Tactical PartnershipsBangladesh must preserve its non-aligned stance while cultivating multi-directional defence cooperation — particularly with China, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Gulf states. Comprehensive Deterrence StrategyDeterrence must be multi-faceted, based not solely on firepower, but also on resilience, redundancy, mobilisation potential, and denial capabilities. Integrated National Defence DoctrineThe defence framework must link together the Armed Forces, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), civilian logistics, infrastructure, and