Rethinking Bangladesh’s Defence Posture: The Imperative for a Modern Riverine Warfare Capability

Reading Time: 6 minutes Bangladesh is defined by water. Its rivers shape its geography, culture, and economy, yet they remain surprisingly absent from the core structure of its military doctrine. For a country with thousands of kilometres of navigable waterways, the absence of a dedicated riverine warfare capability in the Bangladesh Army reflects a strategic oversight that must be addressed with urgency and vision. Throughout modern military history, the significance of riverine warfare has been repeatedly demonstrated. During the First Indochina War, French forces attempted to adapt existing naval craft to inland combat scenarios by forming river flotillas known as Dinassaut units. These formations were hampered by the lack of organic infantry and suffered as a result. The United States learned from this experience and implemented a more integrated approach during the Vietnam War. In the Mekong Delta, the Mobile Riverine Force brought together the US Navy and Army in