Para-Commando Brigade (Bangladesh)


The [Mostafa Kamal (Bir Sreshtho)|]Para Commando Brigade is an independent special operations force of the Bangladesh Army. The Special forces brigade is headquartered at Sylhet and is composed of three Para Commando battalions.
The involvement of special operations units in Bangladesh Armed Forces was started by the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. From 1974, commando units have existed in Bangladesh Army under various names, mostly in the form of specialist Jungle Warfare and counter insurgency units. A separate special operations capable unit of the Bangladesh Army was first officially formed on 30 June 1992 as the 1st Para Commando Battalion, which is the first modern sepcial force of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Para Commando Battalions are administratively part of Bangladesh Infantry Regiment, although they do not share any lineage or tradition. On 1 June 2015, the unit received National Standard from the President of Bangladesh. On 4 September 2016, Adhoc Para Commando Brigade was formed and the brigade got its full structure and strength by 10 October 2019.

History

Early Period

Bangladeshi commando units have a great history of glory, tradition, honour and pride.Though the term "Para Commando" came later but its activities were started long time ago.The Elite Soldiers of Bengal Subah period is the great illusion of it..

Later in colonial period,the elite soldiers of Bengal Native Infantry of Bengal Army
are also part of this great history.There were more than 70 bengal infantry battalions in Bengal native infantry regiment of Bengal Army during british period in Bengal. Among them five or six battalions of Bengal Native Infantry were designated as Elite Units like 1st Bengal light infantry,
3rd Bengal Light cavalry, 6th Bengal Light Infantry, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Bengal Light Infantry and 107th Regiment of Foot.

The Second World War and Pakistan Period

In 1939 when the war broke out, many of the Bengalis joined to British Army to participate in the war. Recruiting them some new bengali units were reopened and these units were filled with bengali soldiers. Among those, two bengali assault infantry companies, 1256 and 1407 Assault Infantry Companies were specially trained and formed to lead in the battle field. These specially formed units were sent to face the Japanese in the burma front. They participated in the Operation Thursday along with 'The Chindits' and the "US Army Rangers" in Burma.
After the independence of Pakistan these soldiers formed the "1st East Bengal Regiment", the first ever bengali regiment in the Pakistan Army. Many of these soldiers later participated in the "Commando" training at SSG training center and qualified as Special Forces operatives. Colonel Taher was one of the three Black Cats of the world who was a bengali commando of pakistan army.

Bangladesh Liberation War Period

;Commando Companies:
The commando qualified soldiers of the East Bengal Regiment formed Commando Companies in each liberation war sector. They launched many raids and ambushes on Pakistan army to enrich their assortment of armaments at the very beginning of the war. They also performed several covert operations and reconnaissance missions throughout the country.
;Crack Platoon:
Crack Platoon was a specialized urban warfare unit of Muktibahini during the liberation war of Bangladesh. Major A.T.M Haider formed this unit under the supervision of sector no-2. In June 1971, sector commander Khaled Mosharraf sent these specialized urban guerillas to Dhaka city. There most famous operation was Operation Hotel Intercontinental. These guerillas successfully launched a raid in hotel intercontinental where a delegate from the World Bank and the pakistani authorities were concentrating in a meeting. In this operation ten to fifteen soldiers of Pakistan Army were killed and many were wounded.
The platoon's notable operations included:
Operation Hotel Intercontinental, Operation Five power stations, Operation Farmgate, Operation Dhanmondi, Operation Green road etc. The crack platoon launched 82 guerilla operations in Dhaka durning the war.

Special Warfare Wing

In 1976, special warfare wing was established at School of Infantry and Tactics in Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet. This was the first step towards the formation of a special force in Independent Bangladesh. In 1980, Army commando course and counter-insurgency course started at special warfare wing. In the same year, the Special Warfare Wing was expanded to Special Warfare School. The Army Airborne School was established in 1988 at Sylhet Cantonment under special warfare wing. In 1989, the first para training course was started at the special warfare school.

1st Para Commando Battalion

On 30 June 1992, the 1st Para Commando Battalion started its journey at Jalalabad Cantonment of Sylhet. The flag of the battalion was raised in May 1993. On 1 June 2015, 1st Para Commando Battalion came out as a full-fledged regiment. After the formation of Adhoc Para Commando Brigade on 4 September 2016, they started working under the command of the Brigade.
The battalion was awarded the national standard on 2 November 2017 as a recognition of their outstanding works.

Organization

UnitLocation
Brigade Headquarters and Brigade Headquarters' TroopsJalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet
1st Para Commando Battalion
  • HQ Company
  • Red Company
  • Black Company
  • Gold Company
Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet
2nd Para Commando Battalion
  • HQ Company
  • Red Company
  • Black Company
  • Gold Company
Sreemangal Upazila, Maulavibazar
3rd Para Commando Battalion
  • HQ Company
  • Red Company
  • Black Company
  • Gold Company
Maulavibazar
Counter Terrorism Unit Jalalabad Cantonment, Sylhet

As typical commando battalions, these battalions are quite understrength compared to a regular Bangladesh Army infantry battalion, in terms of both manpower and firepower. Each Para Commando battalion is Consisted of a HQ company and 3 Operations Companies called by colour code callsigns instead of phonetic callsigns used by Infantry Battalions. Each company, led by a Major, has separate troops/platoons of various specialties i.e. airborne operations,Direct action,Air Assault, Reconnaissance, Jungle Warfare, Urban warfare, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, covert ops, hostage rescue, high-value targets/manhunt, intelligence operations etc.
The members of counter terrorism unit are specially trained on counter terrorism and unconventional warfare. Battalions also includes medical, signals and other support personnel, all of whom are airborne and commando qualified.

Equipment

; Pistols
; Sub-machine guns
; Assault rifles
; Sniper rifles
; Machine guns and rocket launchers
; Transport

United Nations peacekeeping

Bangladesh is participating in different UN peacekeeping missions since 1988. Currently, Bangladesh is one of the largest contributors of the UN peacekeeping operations. Bangladesh Army has deployed its Special Forces in various UN Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement missions, notably in Ivory Coast, South Sudan, Darfur, Central African Republic, Haiti and Mali. These Special Forces detachments, using BANSF prefix, are often tasked with high risk rescue operations and raids against insurgents.

Dhaka Holey Artisan Bakery hostage crisis

On 1 July 2016, five assailants stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery with crude bombs, machetes, ak 22 rifle and pistols, in Dhaka's affluent neighborhood, Gulshan 2, which is extremely popular among expatriates and foreigners, at roughly 9:20 pm, taking hostage of the locals and foreigners inside. Not realising the gravity of the situation, the initial assault to secure the premises, commenced by Dhaka Metropolitan Police, resulted in the casualties of two police officers in exchanging gunfire with the assailants.
However, Police and the Rapid Action Battalion acted with celerity in setting up a perimeter around the Bakery to block escape of any assailant. After fruitless hours of seeking to bring a peaceful solution to the problem, when the perpetrators refused to communicate with authorities, the realisation set that alternative measures were required.
At an early morning meeting on Saturday, the highest level of Government decided to engage the 1st Commando Battalion. They were flown in from Sylhet to carry out a counter-assault and free the hostages. After gathering intelligence from RAB and the Police forces present on the ground, Commandos initiated their raid, which began at 7:40 am and concluded at 8:30 am. They were successfully able to free 13 hostages and kill the assailants.
During the attack, 9 Italians, 7 Japanese, 2 Bangladeshis, 1 Indian, and 1 American were killed by the perpetrators.

Operation Twilight in Sylhet

On Thursday, 23 March 2017, the Bangladesh Police surrounded a suspected militant hideout in Dakshin Surma Upazila, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Later, a SWAT team joined the police unit from Dhaka. The housing complex has two apartment buildings. The Police unit was reinforced with personal from Rapid Action Battalion on Friday. On Saturday, the 1st Para Commando Battalion took charge of operations and named it Operation Twilight.
Operation Twilight was launched by the 1st Para Commando Battalion of the adhoc para commando brigade of the Bangladesh Army under the command of GOC of 17th Infantry Division in Jalalabad Cantonment Major General Anwarul Momen. The main gate of the building was blocked by the militants with a refrigerator with an IED attached to it. The building had 30 apartments and 150 rooms, the militants were constantly changing their location. The operation was launched on Saturday morning around 8am. The Commando unit was being assisted by SWAT and Bangladesh Police. Security forces established a three kilometre perimeter around the militant hideout. The commandos rescued 78 civilians trapped in the building from Thursday. Two militants were killed in the initial attack, one of who detonated a suicide vest. The militants had planted IEDs all over the building which slowed down the military operation. Army spokesman, Brigadier General Fakhrul Ahsan, reported that the operation would take more time because of the presence of IEDs in "strategic points" in the building. The Bangladesh Army used RPGs and shells to drive the militants out without much success. The commandos also used Armoured Personnel Carriers in the operation. Finally four militants were found dead at the hideout.

Operation BEKPA 2

After the failure of two countries, Bangladesh Special Forces in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission has successfully launched an operation against rebel groups in the Central African Republic. Captain Tauquir Ahmed of BANSF-3 leads the bloody operation to free the area from rebel party UPC with an efficient leadership. At the same time, around 150 prisoners were rescued by the operation.

Operation Chiitagong Airport

On 24 February 2019, a Bangladeshi Boeing 737-800 aircraft was hijacked by a gunman on the air. The aircraft was landed to the Chittagong Airport as an emergency landing while it was going to Dubai from Dhaka. A gunman named Palash tried to hijack the aircraft. Though his intention was not clear the authority was trying to negotiate with him. But when everything was failed and then Government ordered the ParaCommando Brigade to Launch an operation. Paracommando brigade members came to the place and launched an operation. The commandos took only eight minutes to make a conclusion. As a result, the hijacker was shot dead by the commandos, 148 passengers and crew got free from the hostage situation.

Lineage

Qualification : The active members of Bangladesh Armed forces and foreign military students of friendly countries can apply for the Army Commando Course of Bangladesh Army.Historically the majority of the candidates come from the Army background.The selections are held twice a year,once in summer and again in the winter.
A candidate who will appear in the selection test has to be:
Physical fitness test qualified soldiers has to face the 4 days of Commando test test which is held at ISSB Office,Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka.
This Commando Test breaks down into 4 days.
These are:
Day-1:
Day-2:
Day-3:
Day-4:
Though this test looks like normal ISSB test but it has some extensive tasks which is more than the normal ISSB.In physical phase,there are some advance tests are taken which is not common in the normal ISSB test.This test is only for the commissioned officers.The non-commissioned officers and privets has to face a different test,where their physical and mental endurance is judged.
These tests are compulsory for all.After passing all these tests,a soldier can entire into the Commando Training.But at the first day of commando training, they have to pass the Entrance Test at Special Warfare Wing,Sylhet.After this they can entire into the main part of the training.
Army Commando Course: The Para Commando Course/Army Commando Course itself is a 30-32 weeks durational training.This training is very much hazardous and gruelling.Only the toughest trainees can sustain and qualify this training.This Para Commando Course is composed of two major phases,these are: The Commando Phase and the Airborne Phase.The duration of the Commando phase is 26 weeks and the Airborne phase is 4-6 weeks.
Commando Phase:
The 26 weeks durational commando training helds at Sylhet and the nearby areas of sylhet.For some mountain trainings, the trainees are taken to the Chittagong area.In the whole training, the trainees has to go with the highest level of physical and mental tough works.The training held at day and night but majority of the training held at night.These trainings included: highly professional raid,ambush,direct action,air assault,covert operation,reconnaissance,underwater demolitions,unconventional warfare,counter insurgency & counter terrorism,hand to hand combat,survival and many more etc.
After successfully completion of the commando phase,the trainees entire into the Airborne Phase .
Airborne Phase:
the airborne phase is the ending phase of the Army Commando Course.In this phase a qualified commando is trained with Basic Para Course to perform operational jump.Generally the duration of this course is 4-6 weeks but sometimes it becomes longer depending on the numbers of the students.The first two weeks of the airborne training is the physical endurance phase .In this phase a commando has to go through many physical and mental tasks.The next two weeks are known as Jump Weeks.A commando has to perform minimum 5 operational jumps with parachute using static line from different aircrafts and different heights to earn the Para Commando Bravet.
After successfully completing the Army Commando Course from the Special Warfare Wing, a soldier go back to his unit becoming a Para Commando of Bangladesh Army and waits for the next call from the Bangladesh Army Special Forces- Para Commando Brigade.
Joining to the Special Forces- Para Commando Brigade :
A para Commando soldier needs some extra qualifications to join into the Special Forces- Para Commando Brigade.e.g: special forces related any training from home and abroad,parachute related advanced training,sniper,counter terrorism course and any experience of joint special forces training with any foreign special forces etc.
When all of these requirements are filled up then a para commando soldier can get a chance to wear the Maroon Beret' of the Bangladesh Army Special Forces.

Honors, mottos and pride

The Para Brigade has been credited with numerous battles from Bangladesh Liberation War onwards.In the Liberation war, they participated as Commando Company in each sector of Bangladesh Liberation War and participated in many major battles.e.g:Battle of Kamalpur,Jamalpur;
Battle of Doruin, Comilla; Battle of Rangamati-Mahalchari waterway,
Chittagong Hill Tracts; Battle of Goahati, Jessore; Battle of Dhalai, Sreemangal Upazila ; Battle of Ajmiriganj, an 18 hour encounter between Mukti Bahini and Pakistan army ; Battle of Garibpur; Battle of Hilli ;  Battle of Kushtia; Battle of Shiromoni etc. In these battles,the soldiers of commando companies participated directly as special forces organisation of Mukti Bahini.
Some of the Commandos of Liberation War Army earned Bir Uttam, Bir Bikrom and many of them achieved the Bir Protik award.
In the post-liberation war period,in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts Counter Insurgency Operation,they were directly involved for a long time.Many of them achieved gallantry awards for these operations.In the United Nations peacekeeping, the commandos participate as a separate Special Forces organisation.The BANSF has been awarded with United Nations Medal for their sacrifice and contribution in the United Nations Peacekeeping.The commandos are involved in the war against combat terrorism for a long time.Recently they launched three major counterterrorism operations in home- operation thunderbolt, operations twilight and operation Chittagong Airport.In these operations,they were completely succeed.For their great contribution,the 1st para commando battalion of the brigade has been awarded with National Flag which is the highest dignity for an unit.
Many of the members were also awarded with many peacetime gallantry awards.e.g: Extraordiary Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Army Medal,Army Medal of Glory, Army Medal of Excellence, Army Efficiency Medal etc.
DO OR DIE is the Para Commando Brigade's motto.That means they are volunteer to do any task at any cost.
They are always ready to serve anywhere at any time.

The term "Para Commando"

The term Para Commando is composed of two different words.These are- Paratrooper & Commando.
A paratrooper is a military parachutist who is trained to do Airborne Assault into an operation.There are two types of paratroopers available in the Bangladesh Army.e.g: static jump paratrooper & free-fall jump paratrooper.
A commando is a military special warfare qualified soldier and part of the elite force of Bangladesh Army.Basically the commandos are trained in all weather & terrain with conventional & unconventional warfare.
According to the Bangladesh Army's official publications,
The Para Commandos are the specially trained elite soldiers of Bangladesh Army Special Forces.They are capable of doing Special Warfare.e.g: airborne assault, air assault, direct action, reconnaissance, jungle warfare, urban warfare, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, covert operations, hostage rescue, high value target, intelligence gathering & surveillance and conventional & unconventional warfare etc.