Bangladesh Military Academy

Following the independence of Bangladesh following the break-up of Pakistan in the Bangladesh War of Independence 1971, Bangladesh Military Academy was established in January 1974 for training the officers of the Army. The Military Academy was opened in 1974 The academy was initially raised at Cumilla Cantonment on 29 November 1973 and later relocated to Bhatiari, Chattogram in 1976. The academy was awarded the National Standard in 1979. The Bangladesh Military Academy provides training to the officers of the Bangladesh Army. From 1983, the officers of the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force also take three months initial military training from the academy. The academy chose a verse by national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Chiro Unnata Momo Shir (translation: ever high is my head) as its motto. Regular long courses commenced from 1978. The first batch of officers of Bangladesh Army graduated from the academy on 11 January 1975. It is affiliated with the ARTDOC. ==Selection==

Entrants must be higher secondary school graduates. They must be at least tall, weigh at least , and be unmarried. Selection is highly competitive. Candidates must undergo a rigorous investigation of their background and educational performance, a complete physical exam, an initial interview, a written test, and an intensive three day examination/interview. The selection process is intended to be non-political. Overwhelmingly, those accepted are disinterested in or disdainful of politics. Eighty percent have rural origins. Most, however, attended well-regarded urban schools or cadet colleges. Foreign officers regularly attend one-year courses at the academy. In 2019, about ten percent of the graduating class were from abroad, mostly from Saudi Arabia. == Training ==

BMA provides military and academic training and character building. The academy primarily trains men and women to be commissioned into the Bangladesh Army. In addition, the academy conducts and orientation course for Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) officers, officer cadets and midshipmen of the Bangladesh Air Force and Navy respectively, and Pre-Commission Training for professor/teacher under-officers of Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC). Long Course cadets graduating from this academy fall under Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) and Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) curriculum. The academy has the intention of fostering and inculcating those attributes in an Officer Cadet (OC) which will ensure his continuous and progressive development as a regular officer in the Bangladesh Army, and developing future officers for the Bangladesh Army by training the Officer Cadets in a way that they can make decisions as and when required by the military profession. ==Training course==

The training courses run at BMA are as follow: • Long Course – 3 years. • BMA Special Regular Course – 24 weeks. • Basic Military Training Course – 24 weeks. • Joint Services Course – 10 weeks (Bangladesh Navy cadets and Bangladesh Air Force cadets). • Direct Short Service Commission – 49 weeks • Potential Platoon Commanders Course – 05 weeks. • Drill Instructor Course – 07 weeks. • BCS Officers Orientation Course weeks (01 week in BMA) – 05 weeks. • Post Commission Academic Training (PCAT) - Final Semester of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) (4–6 months) ==Academic training==

This training is mainly conducted to prepare the cadets of long courses for qualifying in the Bachelor of Arts (BA)/Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Pass Course) examinations. From 67 BMA Long Course, there will be a common degree. That is Bachelor of Defence Studies (BDS). From 75 BMA Long Course there are 8 subjects to study: International relations, BBA, Economics, Physics, Computer Science, & Engineering, Electrical, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering. The academic training also aimed at developing communication skill both in English and Bangla through oral and written expression, create awareness of current national, regional and international affairs, widen mental horizon and sense of reasoning. File:Remote camp.jpg|Remote army camp in Chittagong Hill Tracts File:Bn flotilla.jpg|Bangladesh Navy Flotilla visit File:Bangladesh Military Academy cadets visit Mainamati War cemetery.jpg|Comilla war cemetery (WWII) ==Publications==

BMA has two publications namely CHIRO UNNOTO MOMO SHIR (EVER HIGH IS MY HEAD) is BMA magazine and PADAKHKHEP (ONWARD MARCH) a professional journal. Both the publications published once in a year. == Battalions and companies ==

For training, the Officer Cadets are organized under a single battalion known as the First Bangladesh Battalion. This is the only cadet battalion at Bangladesh Military Academy. The battalion consists of five companies, named in honor of five out of the seven recipients of the Bir Sreshtho, the highest military award in Bangladesh. ==Affiliation==

The academy provides a three-year academic programme combined with intense military training. It is affiliated with the Bangladesh University of Professionals and Military Institute of Science and Technology that provides 4-year bachelor's degrees. Every cadet has to study Military Science in this institution. They have to learn every thing practically. == Notable alumni ==

• Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman, 18th Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army • Gen S. M. Shafiuddin Ahmed, 17th Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army • Gen Aziz Ahmed, 16th Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army • Gen Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque, 15th Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army • Brigadier General AKM Shamsul Islam, Defence Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh ==See also==