Ministry of Defence
Profile
- Head
- Tarique Rahman
- Role
- Minister (Prime Minister holding Defence portfolio)
- Annual budget
- ৳406,980,000,000
- Staff
- —
- Established
- 1971
- Legal basis
- Constitution of Bangladesh, Article 55; Rules of Business 1996
Under PM Tarique Rahman's direct portfolio, MoD is prioritising armed forces leadership consolidation, renewed India defence ties, domestic defence industry development (proposed defence economic zone, two high-level industry committees), and nuclear security governance at Rooppur.
Recent activity
- 2026-02-17 appointment PM Tarique Rahman assumed the Defence portfolio directly upon being sworn in; Brig Gen (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam appointed Defence Adviser with state minister status. ↗↗
- 2026-02-20 appointment Bangladesh Army underwent major leadership reshuffle: Lt Gen M Mainur Rahman appointed Chief of General Staff; Maj Gen Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury named DGFI Director General. ↗↗
- 2026-04-06 appointment Defence Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam given additional charge of the Armed Forces Division alongside his MoD responsibilities. ↗
- 2026-04-08 international Defence Adviser AKM Shamsul Islam met Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to discuss expanding bilateral defence cooperation and training collaboration. ↗↗
- 2026-05-12 regulation Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority issued new circular requiring procuring agencies not to accept significantly low-priced tenders without scrutiny, applying to MoD/DGDP procurement. ↗
- 2026-05-13 policy Defence Adviser delivered lecture at MIST on nuclear security and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant protection, emphasising Bangladesh Army's role under international nuclear security commitments. ↗↗
Provenance & notes
PM Tarique Rahman holds the Defence portfolio directly; he does not have a separate Defence Minister. AKM Shamsul Islam is Defence Adviser (state minister equivalent), additionally charged with AFD from April 6, 2026. MoD does not exercise command over armed forces -- operational command authority rests with the Armed Forces Division (AFD). Budget figure of Tk 40,698 crore converted to BDT: 406,980,000,000 (1 crore = 10,000,000). Staff count not publicly available at sanctioned-post level. 13th Parliament sworn in February 2026; BNP-led government under PM Tarique Rahman is the first elected government since the July 2024 uprising ended Hasina's administration.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Defence_(Bangladesh)
- https://mod.gov.bd/
- https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/governance/news/tarique-head-cabinet-armed-forces-divisions-defence-ministry-4108916
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarique_Rahman_ministry
- https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/budget/budget-fy26-defence-ministry-allocated-tk40698cr-slightly-down-last-fy-1158476
- https://www.bdmilitary.com/defence-news/defence-acquisitions/bangladeshs-fy2025-26-defence-and-public-security-budget-reflects-austerity-priorities/1734/
- https://www.bssnews.net/news/375172
- https://www.bssnews.net/news/386801
- https://www.thedailystar.net/news/news/pms-defence-adviser-indian-high-commissioner-discuss-boosting-defence-ties-4146906
- https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/government-affairs/403918/major-changes-in-army-top-brass
- https://afd.gov.bd/about-afd