Border Guards Bangladesh - History

History

Border Guard Bangladesh as a paramilitary force, is entrusted with the responsibility to defend the 4,427 km border of the country. It is the first line of defense for the nation. BGB boasts an illustrious past with rich traditions and a remarkable military history spanning over two centuries. During peacetime this force is also responsible for anti-smuggling operations, investigating cross border crime and extending governmental authority to remote and isolated areas. From time to time BGB has also been called upon to assist the administration in the maintenance of internal law & order, relief and rehabilitation work after any kind of natural disaster. During wartime BGB comes under the control of the Ministry of Defense as an auxiliary force to Bangladesh Army.

• Ramgarh Local Battalion (1795–1861):

The force was established in 29 June 1795 at the city of 'Ramgarh' consisting of 486 personnel as the “Frontier Protection Force” under the command of the East India Company. Later the force was converted in to a paramilitary unit with its own name (Ramgarh Local Battalion) and uniform. At that time its primary responsibility was to suppress insurgent activities around the Ramgarh area. During 1799, the force established its first camp at Pilkhana, where the headquarter is still remain to this day. The camp unit then was known as “Special Reserve Company”.

• Frontier Guards (1861–1891):

The Ramgarh Local Battalion was renamed as the 'Frontier Guards' and remained so for thirty years.

• Bengal Military Police (1891–1919):

In 1891 the Frontier Guards were re-organized and re-equipped with modern weapons and renamed once again as the ‘Bengal Military Police’. Commanded by a Subedar (Senior Warrant Officer), the BMP had four companies located in Dhaka, Dhumka and Gangtok. This force also participated in the First World War.

• Eastern Frontier Rifles (1920–1947):

The BMP was reorganized yet once again and renamed as the ‘Eastern Frontier Rifles’ in 1920. Its primary task was to protect the borders. It also took part in numerous military operations during the Second World War.

• East Pakistan Rifles (1947–1971):

After the partition of the Indian sub-continent ‘Eastern Frontier Rifles’ was re-grouped and renamed as the 'East Pakistan Rifles'. It was the primary border protection force of the then East Pakistan. A number of Metropolitan Armed Police of Calcutta and some 1,000 ex-soldiers of West Pakistan merged into this force. Officers from the army were transferred to command and reorganize EPR. In 1958, it was also assigned the anti-smuggling duties on top of its primary role as the border guards. In 1965 India Pakistan war this force fought valiantly and successfully in a number of skirmishes in Lathitila, Dohogram, Laksmipur, Assalong and Boroibari. Major Tofael was awarded the highest military award of erstwhile Pakistan, ‘Nishan-e-Haider’, for his action in the Laksmipur Operation. The strength of the force was 13,454 during March 1971.

• Bangladesh Rifles (1971–2010):

During the war of independence members of the EPR were the first to respond to Major Ziaur Rahman's declaration of independence by grouping with Zia's forces. Rifles' members participated in the liberation struggle right from its inception. At the final Bangladesh Forces Sector Commanders Conference presided by General M.A.G Osmani, on January 29, 1972, the East Pakistan Rifles was renamed as the Bangladesh Rifles .

• Border Guard Bangladesh (2010–onward): The Bangladesh Rifles have gone through some fundamental changes since 2010. It was officially renamed as Border Guards Bangladesh on January 23, 2011.