Experts call for rethinking security posture

Defence strategists, policy experts and academics have called for a rethink of Bangladesh’s national security posture, citing gaps in defence spending, cyber preparedness and maritime strategy.

The Center for Peace Studies (CPS) at North South University (NSU) organised a high-level national dialogue titled “Securing Bangladesh’s Future: Rethinking National Security in a New and Changing Era” at the NSU Syndicate Hall on Monday, according to a media statement.

The dialogue addressed structural problems including Bangladesh’s reactive national security posture, its vulnerability to sub-threshold and hybrid warfare threats, maritime economic strangulation, cyber warfare, and coordination issues in strategy formulation.

In his opening remarks, CPS Director Prof Dr M Jashim Uddin said “national security and economic development are interconnected and reinforce each other”.

Speaking on Bangladesh-US relations, he added: “The United States should see Bangladesh through its own lens.”

The first panel focused on defence and alliances.

Speaker retired lieutenant general Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman said the country’s defence spending, at 1.1 percent of GDP, is the lowest among South Asian nations, and proposed strategies for military alliances amid the current geopolitical reality. He said Bangladesh’s failure to make adequate defence allocations explains why it lacks a coherent, comprehensive national strategy.

Retired major general Md Nayeem Ashfaque Chowdhury said the country’s capability gap exposes it to asymmetric vulnerabilities, stressing the urgency of institutional modernisation.

The second panel addressed cybersecurity threats.

Retired major general Ibne Fazal Shayekhuzzaman said building cyber infrastructure is a prerequisite for formulating a national cybersecurity strategy.

Retired major general Md Wahid-Uz-Zaman said, “It is high time to connect national security and cyber security.”
The third panel addressed maritime security.

Retired commodore Syed Misbah Uddin Ahmad called for a multidimensional maritime strategic security architecture.

Prof Jashim said, “We are a Maritime Nation and securing the maritime zone is a prerequisite for national security.”

Retired rear admiral M Anwar Hossain spoke on the need for Bangladesh to uphold strategic autonomy in the Bay of Bengal and to develop a comprehensive Indo-Pacific outlook.

“A maritime security council needs to be established to address the security issues.”

National Professor Dr Mahbub Ullah said Bangladesh needed to distinguish between friends and enemies, adding that “small states are also capable of beating larger powers if certain factors are met”.

Special guest retired major general Fazle Elahi Akbar highlighted the urgency of establishing a National Security Agency and a broader national security architecture.

The statement said participants also included Dr AKM Waresul Karim, dean of the School of Business and Economics; Prof Dr Md Rizwanul Islam, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; Ziaul Haq Adnan, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Anas Ansar, Riasat Khan, Syed Mortuza Asif Ehsan, senior Bangladesh Army officials; former and serving military officers; defence analysts; researchers; policy experts; and NSU faculty members.

NSU Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Hannan Chowdhury said defence investment linked to domestic research could generate important technological and economic spillovers.

He also thanked the CPS for organising what the statement described as a timely national dialogue on security.-bdnews24