Reserve Force: A youth training or political project?

A government-funded self-defence initiative launched under an interim administration resurfaces in a party manifesto, reigniting questions over legality, security, and the politicisation of youth.

The Basic Self-Defense Training for Youth project, launched by the Ministry of Youth and Sports under the interim administration, has once again come under intense scrutiny after reappearing in partisan political discourse. Originally framed as a non-political initiative to enhance youth preparedness, the project is now being questioned for its legality, intent, and long-term implications-particularly after former Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan described it as a potential "reserve force" and later echoed similar ideas in a party election manifesto.

Conceived during a non-partisan interim government, the initiative was controversial from the outset. It aimed to train thousands of young citizens in self-defence techniques, including the use of firearms, prompting widespread debate among constitutional experts, security analysts, and civil society actors. Concerns centred on whether a civilian ministry had the authority to initiate a defence-linked programme without parliamentary approval or a national security framework.

Those concerns have resurfaced sharply following Asif Mahmud's political transition. After resigning as an adviser, he joined the National Citizen Party (NCP), where he currently serves as spokesperson and chairman of its election management committee.

 On February 1, Asif stated that the NCP's election manifesto includes a proposal to double the country's "reserve force" through youth participation-reviving questions about whether a state-backed initiative has been repurposed into a partisan agenda.

The continuity between his former executive role and current political position has intensified allegations of conflict of interest and institutional misuse. Critics argue that a programme initiated with public funds under an interim government now risks being politically weaponised.

While overseeing both the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Local Government, Asif Mahmud had announced via social media that trainees would receive instruction in karate, judo, taekwondo, and firearms at seven centres nationwide. The ministry described the training as something that could be useful "at any time after completion."

Subsequently, the Advisory Council approved the project with a budget of Tk 278.2 million, targeting 8,850 participants-8,250 men and 600 women. Asif publicly claimed that these trained youths would form a national "reserve force" capable of responding during emergencies, presenting the initiative as a pilot programme to strengthen national security.

In an interview with BBC Bangla, Asif articulated a doctrine of "mass defence," citing regional threats and arguing that preparing civilians was essential to protecting sovereignty. However, analysts say this framing dangerously blurs the line between civilian engagement and militarisation.

Security experts warn that declaring or forming a reserve force is not within the executive discretion of a civilian ministry. Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, stressed that such initiatives require a national doctrine, statutory backing, and parliamentary oversight. He questioned the absence of clear recruitment criteria, vetting processes, and post-training surveillance mechanisms.

Professor Omar Farooq of Maulana Bhashani University highlighted the sociopolitical risks, warning that trained youths could be influenced by political or extremist forces. "It is far more difficult to manage trained individuals if they are mobilised irresponsibly," he said, calling it a potential security threat.

The first batch of training began on November 9 last year with 50 participants aged 18 to 35 and concluded on November 22, 2025. According to Project Director Colonel Md Golam Mabud Hasan, the training was limited to basic self-defence and air-gun handling, not combat-level weapons training. He denied any political linkage and said the trainees are not part of any active reserve force, though they remain in contact.

Despite these assurances, structural concerns persist. The project lacks parliamentary approval, a defence policy framework, and safeguards against politicisation. Its revival in a party manifesto has only deepened fears that a taxpayer-funded programme may be transformed into political capital.

As Bangladesh heads into a critical election period, analysts warn that the militarisation of youth and erosion of institutional boundaries could set a dangerous precedent-one where national security narratives are shaped not by consensus and law, but by political ambition.