Operational Integrity Under Strain: External Pressures and Internal Fractures in the Bangladesh Armed Forces

Reading Time: 5 minutes Over the past two decades, the operational independence and institutional integrity of the Bangladesh Armed Forces have been tested by both internal and external pressures. While Bangladesh continues to modernise its military capabilities, particularly since the launch of Forces Goal 2030, a persistent and underreported dimension of its defence policy trajectory has been the alleged targeting, forced retirement, or side-lining of principled officers — particularly those who resisted foreign interference or refrained from engaging in unauthorised military cooperation with India. Strategic Pressure and Bilateral Sensitivities Relations between Bangladesh and India have oscillated between pragmatic cooperation and latent strategic mistrust. India remains a dominant regional actor with substantial interest in Bangladesh’s political, military, and security orientation. However, this relationship has been accompanied by recurrent allegations of overreach by India’s intelligence apparatus, particularly the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and certain military officials. Sources within Bangladesh’s retired military