Legal notice asks government to procure advanced air defence systems, build national shield

The legal notice has called for Patriot-level defence systems, noting that neighbours have already deployed the S-400

A legal notice has urged the government to establish a national air defence umbrella by procuring advanced systems from international sources alongside developing indigenous technology.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahmudul Hassan sent a legal notice to the government on Tuesday via post and email, citing public interest.

The move comes amid global media highlighting mainly the use of air defence systems, controlled by AI, in the escalating situation in the Middle East.

The notice was addressed to the Cabinet secretary, the secretaries of the defence and finance ministries, the principal staff officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, and the commandant of the Bangladesh Ordnance Factories (BOF).

The government has been given 15 days to begin the process of allocating funds and infrastructure for air defence procurement and domestic research.

Failure to comply will result in a writ petition being filed with the High Court under Article 102 of the Constitution, the notice warned.

The legal notice argues that as a significant portion of the national budget is allocated to the defence sector, citizens have a legitimate right to know if the state is capable of defending itself against modern external threats.

The notice highlights that modern warfare has shifted from traditional land battles to aerial strikes involving sophisticated missiles, fighter jets, and drones.

Citing defence analysts, the lawyer claimed Bangladesh currently lacks a fully integrated and highly effective air defence umbrella.

Without such systems, the military may struggle to protect both strategic installations and civilian lives during a foreign aerial assault, potentially leading to a compromise of national sovereignty, the notice said.

The notice specifically points to the ongoing civil war in neighbouring Myanmar and regional arms developments as reasons for urgent action.

It noted that India has already deployed the Russian S-400 Triumf system.

The lawyer also urged the government to consider world-class systems such as the US Patriot or equivalent advanced Chinese technology.

The notice emphasised that because foreign systems are expensive and create long-term dependency, Bangladesh must immediately invest in domestic research and development (R&D) to build its own defence technology.