Para Commando: Bangladesh Army’s Airborne Special Forces

Reading Time: 3 minutes The term Para Commando refers to the elite airborne commando soldiers of the Bangladesh Army who undergo a grueling seven-month Airborne Commando Course to earn the prestigious Para Commando Brevet. These soldiers form Bangladesh’s foremost special operations force, trained and organised to execute deep-penetration raids, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and special reconnaissance missions in all terrains. Origins: 1971 and the Birth of a Capability The roots of Bangladesh’s special operations capability trace back to the 1971 Liberation War. During this period, several Bengali officers and soldiers from Pakistan’s Special Services Group (SSG) defected to join the Bangladesh Liberation Forces. Their combat experience laid the foundation for the country’s first commando units. Prominent among them were Major Khaled Mosharraf (later Brigadier), Colonel Abu Taher (former SSG 2nd Commando Battalion officer known as the “Maroon Parachutist”), Major Manzur (later Major General), and Captain A.T.M. Haider (former SSG 3rd