‘Stronger’ air defence in Chattogram could have averted Rohingya crisis, says Army chief

He calls for stronger defence readiness, says preparation helps avoid conflict rather than fight wars

The Army chief has linked gaps in Bangladesh’s air defence capability to the scale of the Rohingya crisis, saying stronger military presence in key coastal zones could have altered its course.

On Thursday, speaking at the National Defence College’s “Capstone Course 2026/1” closing ceremony, General Waker-Uz-Zaman said limited military preparedness, including air power constraints, carries wider strategic consequences beyond war scenarios.

He urged participants to engage more deeply with the armed forces, saying national institutions must be better understood by policymakers, academics and professionals.

Waker said Bangladesh Navy remains crucial for protecting trade routes, pointing to the country’s dependence on imports and exports and the need to secure maritime communication lines.

He added that the Navy faces operational limitations, including a shortage of offshore patrol vessels, forcing reliance on smaller corvettes that are less cost-efficient for extended sea patrols.

The Army chief also pointed to Air Force capability gaps, saying the absence of long-term procurement of multi-role combat aircraft has affected air defence readiness.

He said if “stronger” air defence systems had been deployed in Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram, the Rohingya crisis might not have emerged in its current form.

The crisis stems from August 2017, when a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar forced approximately 750,000 Rohingya to cross the border into Bangladesh in what the UN described as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

Several hundred thousand more have arrived in subsequent waves, leaving over 1.1 million refugees in camps across Ukhiya and Teknaf, creating the world’s largest refugee settlement.

This prolonged stay continues to pose challenges for the local economy, environment, and regional security, with repatriation efforts stalled by the situation in Myanmar.

"Investing Tk 10 billion today could prevent a Tk 500 billion loss down the line," the general noted, invoking the proverb "a stitch in time saves nine”.

He explained that military readiness serves as a tool to avert conflict rather than provoke it, adding that foreign policy remains toothless without a robust defence system to back it.

Waker expressed his desire to build a defence force that acts as an effective deterrent against potential enemies while remaining fully accountable to the nation.

"An organisation without accountability will never grow," he said, adding that the military must always operate under a framework of responsibility.

He also referred to ongoing energy security concerns, pointing to fuel shortages and long queues for petroleum products.

The top commander noted that Bangladesh has only one refinery that processes a small portion of crude oil demand, forcing heavy reliance on imported refined fuel at higher cost.

He added that despite more than five decades of independence, refinery expansion has not matched national demand, limiting energy security options.