Bangladesh Armed Forces

The Bangladesh Armed Forces (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ সশস্ত্র বাহিনী, romanized: Bānlādeś Sôshôstrô Bāhinī) is the combined military force of Bangladesh, responsible for national defense, safeguarding sovereignty, and supporting civil authorities during emergencies. It consists of three uniformed branches: the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, and the Bangladesh Air Force.

The armed forces operate under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence of the Government of Bangladesh and are directly administered by the Armed Forces Division of the Prime Minister's Office. The President of Bangladesh serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces.

Bangladesh has the third-largest defence budget in South Asia. The Bangladeshi military is also the 35th strongest in the world and the third most powerful military force in South Asia. The service branches of the Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs during peacetime, however during wartime, they will fall under the command of the Bangladesh Army and the Bangladesh Navy, respectively.

Military policy is formulated and executed by the Armed Forces Division (AFD), whereas the Ministry of Defence (MoD) does not exercise any operational or policy authority over the Armed Forces. Since independence, the AFD and MoD have been led by the Prime Minister. To coordinate military policy with foreign and intelligence policy, both the President and the Prime Minister are advised by a six-member advisory board, which consists of the three military services Chiefs of Staff, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, and Military secretaries to the President and the Prime Minister. The directors-general of the NSI, the DGFI, and the BGB also serve in an advisory capacity when invited.

Armed Forces Day is observed on 21 November and commemorates the founding of the three services of the Armed Forces, who subsequently initiated a joint military operation against the occupying Pakistani Armed Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Official functions are held across the country, including at Bangabhaban, the Armed Forces Division Headquarters at Dhaka Cantonment, all military cantonments, and at every military installation throughout Bangladesh.