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

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 events instilled a deeply ingrained notion that defence affairs were a domain exclusively for the armed forces, beyond the reach of civilian scrutiny (Ahmed, 2017).

Consequently, defence matters have remained politically sensitive and largely insulated from public or parliamentary oversight. Governments across the political spectrum have historically refrained from promoting open discussion about the military in civilian forums, both to preserve civil-military balance and to avoid accusations of politicising the armed forces. This culture of secrecy has marginalised public understanding of defence policy, procurement decisions, and national security strategy.

Educational Gaps and Media Deficiencies

A significant driver of defence illiteracy in Bangladesh is the lack of education on national security and military affairs. While the country’s Liberation War is widely covered in school curricula, the evolution of Bangladesh’s military institutions, strategic environment, and global defence trends are largely absent. As a result, students graduate with little awareness of how the armed forces operate, what their constitutional mandates are, or how they contribute to regional security.

This vacuum is compounded by a generally underdeveloped defence media sector. Defence reporting is often limited to ceremonial events, public relations releases, or procurement announcements, lacking in-depth analysis or critical evaluation. Journalists with formal training in military affairs are rare, and investigative reporting in this domain is discouraged due to restricted access and institutional opacity. This information deficit leads many citizens to rely on speculation, social media rumours, or foreign narratives, especially regarding sensitive topics such as aircraft acquisitions or military modernisation.

Public Misconceptions and Discontent with the Air Force

Among the three services, the Bangladesh Air Force remains the least understood by the public. Its limited visibility in humanitarian missions, peacekeeping, or domestic deployments contributes to an image of detachment. While the Army is often seen in action during disasters, elections, and civic operations, and the Navy plays a visible diplomatic role in regional maritime affairs, the BAF’s operations—such as air patrols, training, or radar surveillance—occur largely out of public view.

This limited exposure fosters a perception that the Air Force is underdeveloped, passive, or lagging behind regional counterparts. Delays in visible acquisitions such as multirole combat aircraft or advanced training jets further contribute to this sentiment. Even when significant modernisation takes place—such as the acquisition of K-8W trainers or development of radar infrastructure—public understanding of their strategic importance remains limited due to the lack of accompanying information campaigns or accessible government documentation.

Institutional Opacity and the Absence of Strategic Communication

Bangladesh lacks a publicly available, regularly updated national defence white paper or strategy document. In contrast to countries like India or Malaysia, which publish defence reviews outlining military goals, budget allocations, and procurement priorities, Bangladesh’s approach remains highly centralised and confidential. The Armed Forces Division and Ministry of Defence do not publish threat assessments, force structure plans, or long-term strategic projections.

This lack of transparency hinders civil society’s ability to engage in meaningful debate about national security. It also limits parliamentary scrutiny, restricting the ability of elected representatives to evaluate defence spending or question procurement decisions. Furthermore, without strategic communication units dedicated to public outreach, each service branch—especially the BAF—struggles to present its contributions to national defence in a manner accessible to the public.

A pertinent comparison can be drawn with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), which has developed into a highly effective strategic communications and psychological operations wing. ISPR successfully managed the narrative during the 2019 Balakot airstrike episode, shaping both domestic and global perceptions in Pakistan’s favour through real-time media engagement and rapid content dissemination. It also reinforced a nationalistic image of the military by producing films, dramas, music videos, and even video games that align with strategic messaging goals (Rizvi, 2020). Bangladesh’s armed forces, by contrast, have yet to develop such a media-savvy or doctrine-based communication apparatus capable of reaching the public effectively.

Bridging the Gap: Recommendations for a Defence-Literate Society

To improve defence literacy and restore trust between the public and the military, a set of institutional reforms and civic initiatives must be undertaken:

1. Educational Reform: Introduce modules on military history, regional security, and civil-military relations at the secondary and university levels. Civic education should also cover the constitutional role of the armed forces and how defence oversight functions in a democracy.
2. National Defence White Paper: The Government of Bangladesh should publish a comprehensive defence white paper every five years. This document should outline national security objectives, procurement priorities, service roles, and threat perceptions, enabling informed public discourse without compromising classified information.
3. Strategic Communications Units: Each branch of the armed forces should maintain a dedicated public affairs and strategic communications unit responsible for media relations, public education, and digital outreach. These units should routinely publish fact sheets, updates, and educational materials.
4. Parliamentary Empowerment: Strengthen the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence by providing it with research support, access to declassified briefings, and mandates to hold public hearings on defence matters. Effective civilian oversight fosters both accountability and public trust.
5. Support for Defence Journalism and Research: Media outlets and academic institutions should invest in building expertise in military and strategic affairs. Journalists should receive specialised training, and think tanks should be encouraged to analyse defence trends independently of state narratives.

Conclusion

Defence illiteracy in Bangladesh is the product of historical legacies, institutional secrecy, and educational neglect. In the context of rising strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific and Bangladesh’s expanding security interests, a defence-literate population is not a luxury—it is a necessity. The path forward must be paved with transparency, civic education, and meaningful public engagement. Only then can the armed forces be seen not merely as protectors of sovereignty, but as accountable institutions serving a well-informed democratic society.

References

Ahmed, N. (2017). Civil-Military Relations in Bangladesh: Past Trends and Present Challenges. BIISS Journal, 38(2), pp. 145–160.

BIISS. (2021). National Security Architecture in Bangladesh: Scope for Reform. [online] Available at: https://archive.biiss.org/web/uploads/documents/202111/2112/44/3ba14fe749bd9e5cb7415730febb3801.pdf [Accessed 8 May 2025].

PSP Education. (2021). Paragraph on Illiteracy in Bangladesh. [online] Available at: https://psp.edu.bd/paragraph-illiteracy-in-bangladesh/ [Accessed 8 May 2025].

Rizvi, H. (2020). Managing the Message: The Rise of Pakistan’s ISPR as a Strategic Communication Tool. South Asian Strategic Studies Institute. Available at: https://www.sassi.org/pakistans-ispr-strategic-communications/ [Accessed 8 May 2025].