Understanding Defence Illiteracy in Bangladesh: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

Reading Time: 4 minutes Despite possessing one of South Asia’s largest standing militaries by manpower, Bangladesh remains a country with relatively low levels of defence literacy among its general population. This disconnect between a modernising military and an under-informed public hampers transparency, reduces strategic accountability, and weakens civil-military cohesion. Nowhere is this more visible than in the public perception of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), which, despite notable progress under Forces Goal 2030, continues to be met with scepticism or indifference. This essay explores the structural causes of defence illiteracy in Bangladesh, its manifestations—particularly in relation to the BAF—and outlines strategies for bridging the civilian-military knowledge divide. Historical and Political Foundations of Defence Illiteracy Bangladesh’s formative years were marked by intense political instability and military interventions. In the decades following the Liberation War of 1971, the country experienced successive coups, assassinations, and prolonged periods of military and quasi-military rule. These