Para-Commando Brigade (Bangladesh)

The Para Commando Brigade ( bn, প্যারা কমান্ডো ব্রিগেড) is a special operations force of the Bangladesh Army. This special forces brigade is headquartered at Sylhet and is composed of two Para Commando battalions.

The involvement of special operations units in Bangladesh Armed Forces was initiated by the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. From 1974, commando units were existed in Bangladesh Army under various names, mostly in the form of specialist of jungle warfare and counterinsurgency 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 special force of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. On 1 June 2015, the unit received National Standard from the President of Bangladesh. On 4 September 2016, Ad hoc Para Commando Brigade was formed and the brigade got its full structure and strength by 10 October 2019. The official flag of the brigade was first raised by the prime minister of Bangladesh on 28 October 2020.

History

Early period

Though the term ''Para Commando'' came later but its activities were started long ago. The ''Elite Soldiers'' of Bengal Subah period (1576-1757) are a great example of such.

Later in colonial period, the elite soldiers of ''Bengal Native Infantry'' of ''Bengal Army'' were 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(Bengal Infantry) Regiment of Foot''.

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'', aka "Senior Tigers" - 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 being one

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 (a former SSG operative of the Pakistan Army) formed this unit under the supervision of sector no-2. In June 1971, sector commander Khaled Mosharraf sent these specialized urban guerrillas to Dhaka city. Their most famous operation was ''Operation Hotel Intercontinental''. These guerrillas 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 Farm Gate, Operation Dhanmondi, Operation Green Road etc. The crack platoon launched 82 guerrilla operations in Dhaka during 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 para training course started for the first time in 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 Ad hoc 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.

2nd Para Commando Battalion

The 2nd Para Commando Battalion was raised on ad hoc basis along with the headquarters of Para Commando Brigade in 2016. It was finally raised as 2nd Para Commando Battalion in 2019.The official flag raising ceremony of the battalion was held on 5 November 2020 at Sylhet Cantonment.

Organization

Operations

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 realizing 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 realization set that alternative measures were required.

At an early morning meeting on Saturday (2 July), 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 (codenamed " Operation Thunderbolt"), 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 personnel 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 ad hoc 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 8 am. The Commando unit was being assisted by SWAT and Bangladesh Police. Security forces established a three kilometer 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 Armored Personnel Carriers in the operation. Finally four militants were found dead at the hideout.

Operation BEKPA 2

Bangladesh Special Forces (BANSF/3) in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission launched an operation against rebels in the Central African Republic. Major Md Shahidul Islam of BANSF-3 led the operation to free an area from the rebel group Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC). At the same time, more than 100 prisoners were rescued by the operation.

Operation POUPOU

Bangladesh Special Forces (BANSFC/3) operating in MINUSCA has successfully launched an operation against FDPC armed group in the Central African Republic. Due to various reasons FDPC stopped movement of all kind of vehicles and denied freedom of movement through the Highway 1 of Central African Republic at Zoukumbo village. There were 200-300 houses in the village. The village was used by the FDPC members and their number were around 100. After a number of negotiations by MINUSCA elements, military operations was seen as the viable means to put an end to this crisis situation. On 3 April 2019, BANSFC/3 along with BANBAT/5 were tasked to evict armed group members from the Zoukumbo village and recover 11x Pickups (Government Owned) which were held by FDPC armed group.

Accordingly, on 5 April 2019, BANBAT/5 created blocking positions on both sides of the village and dislodged outpost reaching towards the village and soften up the area by providing fire support from APC. BANSFC/3 took over from BANBAT/5 at the starting of the village and cleared the whole area by moving from house to house with their integral fire support from their APC. After clearing the whole village by BANSFC/3 members, recovered pickups were taken back to Bouar and was handed over later by BANBAT/5. BANSFC/3 rescued and handed over the civilians (70 civilians) who were trapped inside the village during the firefight, to a FACA (Forces Armées Centrafricaines) platoon after the operations. BANSFC/3 also handed over the ground to FACA platoon. There were 5 confirmed kill and 40 injured from the armed group. There was no casualty from Peacekeeping force except some equipment damage. The operation was led by the Lt Col S M Azad, SUP, who was Contingent Commander of BANSFC/3 at that time.

Operation Mayurpankhi

On 24 February 2019, a Boeing 737-800 aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines aircraft was hijacked by a gunman inflight while enroute to Dubai from Dhaka. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Shah Amanat International Airport, Chottogram. A lone gunman named Palash tried to hijack the aircraft. Though his intention was not clear, authorities were trying to negotiate with him. But when negotiations failed, the Para Commando Brigade were green lit to launch an assault. 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

* Formed as Commando Company in each sector of Bangladesh Liberation war under the supervision of Bangladesh Army in 1971.
* Organized as Counter Insurgency & Jungle warfare unit in 1974.
* Re designated as Commando-Special Warfare School in 1976.
* Renamed as Special Warfare Wing in 1982 and expended its activities.
* Formation of 1st Para Commando Battalion in 1992 which became the parent unit of Bangladesh Army Special Forces.
* Upgraded to a ''Regiment'' in 2015
*2nd Para Commando Battalion was raised in 2016.
* Upgraded to a brigade level force in 2016 and named as the Para Commando Brigade.
*Counter Terrorism Unit was raised in 2017 under the brigade's command.

Modern para commando selection and training

Qualification : The active members of Bangladesh Armed forces can apply for the ''Army Commando Course'' of Bangladesh Army. 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:
* an active member of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
* volunteer for the special warfare training
* no physical or mental limitations
* pass the ''commando fitness test'' 3 km run with 12 combat items in the big pack and SMG within 12 minutes,60 push-ups,100 sit-ups, 80 knee benders,10 beams,1.6 mile run within 8 minutes).

Physical fitness test qualified soldiers has to face the 4 days of ''Commando test'' test which is held at ISSB Office, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka.

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 privates has to face a different test, where their physical and mental endurance is judged. These tests are compulsory for all (also for the foreign candidates of friendly countries).After passing all these tests, a soldier can enter 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 enter into the main part of the training.

Army Commando Course: The Para Commando Course/Army Commando Course itself is a 30–32 weeks duration training. This training is very much hazardous and grueling. 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(depends on the number of the students).

Commando Phase: The 26 weeks durational commando training helds at Sylhet and the nearby areas of sylhet. For some mountain training, 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 training 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 enter into the ''Airborne Phase ''.

Airborne Phase: the airborne phase is the ending phase of the ''Army Commando Course. IN''.In this phase a qualified commando is trained with ''Basic Para Course(BPC)'' 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 aircraft and different heights to earn the ''Para Commando Brevet''.
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(Freefall, Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, Rigger),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, motto 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 organization of Mukti Bahini.
Some of the Commandos of Liberation War Army earned Bir Uttam(The second highest gallantry award of Bangladesh), 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 counter-terrorism 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 a unit. Many of the members were also awarded with many peacetime gallantry awards. e.g.: Extraordinary 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. This means that they are ready to do any task at any cost and are always ready to serve anywhere at any time.

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, static jump paratrooper and free-fall jump paratrooper.

A ''commando'' is a military special warfare qualified soldier and part of the ''elite force'' of Bangladesh Army. They are trained in all weather & terrain with conventional & unconventional forms of 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."

Notable members

* Colonel Abu Taher, Bir Uttom; Former member of Pakistan Army Special Service Group, Former Commander of the sector-11 of Bangladesh Liberation War, former Adjutant General of Bangladesh Army
* Lieutenant Colonel A.T.M Haider, Bir Uttom ; Former member of Pakistan Army's Special Service Group, father of the special urban warfare capable historic Crack Platon of Mukti Bahini, Commander of Sector -2 of Bangladesh Liberation War.
*Brigadier General Mohammad Abdur Rab, Former chief instructor of Special Warfare Wing, Pioneer Commando of Bangladesh Army.
* Major Ahsan Ilahee, Former Chief Instructor of Special Warfare Wing, Pioneer Parachute Instructor of Bangladesh Army.
*Brigadier General Md. Zahur-Ul-Alam, 1st CO and one of the pioneers of 1st Para Commando Battalion, Former CEO of Dhaka Stock Exchange.
*Lieutenant general S. M. Matiur Rahman, Ex- GOC of 24 Infantry Division, Former Adjutant general of AHQ, Former GOC of 55 Infantry Division, Former director of Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Bureau, Former Additional DG (Operations) of Rapid Action Battalion
*Lieutenant Colonel Md. Mustafizur Rahman led the military intelligence team in the investigation of Pilkhana carnage.
*Colonel M.M Imrul Hasan, SBP, OSP; Former CO of 1st Para Commando Battalion, led three important counterterrorism operations in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.
*Brigadier General Md Muhsin Alam, ndc, psc Commander of the Para Commando Brigade, Former DG of BKSP.
*Brigadier General Md Saiful Alam Bhuiyan, psc Commander of the Para Commando Brigade, Former DPD of DGFI.

Commanders of the brigade

Note: The above list is the list of the commanders of this brigade. The list of the Commanding Officers of 1st Para Commando Battalion is not included into this list.

Fallen heroes

See also

*School of Infantry and Tactics
* Bangladesh Army Airborne School

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Para Commando Brigade (Bangladesh)
Counterterrorist organizations
Military awards and decorations of Bangladesh
Brigades of Bangladesh
Special forces of Bangladesh