Lady Cadet Jannatul Mawa of the Bangladesh Army has successfully completed her training at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) and received the prestigious Commandant’s Overseas Medal for outstanding performance and leadership during her course.
The passing-out parade was held yesterday at the PMA in Kakul, Abbottabad, where Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army, reviewed the parade and presented awards to distinguished cadets.
Lady Cadet Mawa’s achievement marks a proud moment for the Bangladesh Army, highlighting the growing role of Bangladeshi women in international military training and leadership.
“Lady Cadet Mawa’s success is a reflection of the professionalism, discipline, and commitment of Bangladesh’s armed forces on the international stage,” said a senior Bangladesh Army official familiar with the matter.
Cadets from other friendly nations, including Iraq, Qatar, Palestine, Mali, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Yemen, and Nigeria, also graduated from the PMA during the ceremony, underscoring the academy’s global significance as a platform for international defence cooperation.
Background: Pakistan Military Academy (PMA)
The Pakistan Military Academy, established in 1947 at Kakul, Abbottabad, serves as the premier training institution of the Pakistan Army. Modelled after the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, PMA has produced thousands of officers for Pakistan and for numerous allied and friendly nations.
The academy’s comprehensive curriculum combines academic studies, military tactics, leadership development, and rigorous field exercises. Its Overseas Cadet Programme continues to attract officer candidates from across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, fostering mutual understanding and military professionalism among partner countries.
The academy shares familiar training curriculum and traditions with the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) owing to the same roots.
Bangladesh–Pakistan Defence Cooperation
In recent years, Bangladesh and Pakistan have maintained steady defence engagement through officer exchange programmes and participation in training at premier military institutions. Bangladeshi officers have attended courses at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) and National Defence University (NDU), while Pakistani personnel have participated in training at Bangladesh’s Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT).
Although the two nations pursue distinct strategic alignments, these cooperative efforts reflect an evolving defence diplomacy focused on professional development, leadership training, and maintaining institutional ties between the two militaries.
Lady Cadet Mawa’s achievement at PMA stands as a testament to this ongoing engagement and the Bangladesh Army’s growing international footprint in professional military education.
