| গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশের সশস্ত্র বাহিনী বিভাগ | |
 Seal of the Armed Forces Division | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 10 November 1986; 39 years ago (10 November 1986) |
| Jurisdiction | Bangladesh Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Dhaka Cantonment,Dhaka |
| Prime Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | Ministry of Defence |
| Website | Armed Forces Division |
TheArmed Forces Division (AFD)[a] is the principal national command authority for national defense of thePeople's Republic of Bangladesh. Thecommand and control of theBangladesh Armed Forces is exercised in this division, under direct control and supervision by thePrime Minister, who is also in charge ofMinistry of Defence.[1] The headquarters is located inDhaka Cantonment.[2]
In 1976,the then PresidentZiaur Rahman organised and created the Commander-in-Chief's Secretariat under the office of the President, consolidating central authority dealing with all national security issues while operating under various degrees of authority and responsibility under Ministry of Defense. PresidentAbdus Sattar intended to further organize and structure the body into Bangladesh National Security Council under the office of the President. However, PresidentHossain Mohammad Ershad put an immediate hold to bringing the NSC under full civilian control after seizing state power. It was named the Supreme Command Headquarters after 8 years, on 10 November 1986 sealing armed forces control over national security.
After 1991, the presidential system of government by Act of Parliament was abolished, and by October 1994, the Armed Forces Division was integrated into the Prime Minister's Office and concurrently the combined armed forces authority was transferred to this government body.[3] The Armed Forces Division provide directive to the military of Bangladesh during disaster relief operations. Its officers are members of the National Disaster Management Council. The division coordinates relief operations with theDirectorate of Relief and Rehabilitation,Disaster Management Bureau and theMinistry of Disaster Management and Relief.[4] In 2017 the ministry coordinated with the division to handle the influx ofRohingya refugees in Bangladesh.[5][6]
The Armed Forces Division holds ministerial status and performs functions that run parallel to those of theMinistry of Defence in relation to theBangladesh Armed Forces. It serves as the joint coordinating body for theArmy,Navy, andAir Force. In times of war, it operates as the national joint command center, and in peacetime, the division oversees government approval on matters concerning operations, planning, training, intelligence, administration, and logistics. The division is led by the Principal Staff Officer (PSO), an officer of the rank oflieutenant general, who holds the status equivalent to a senior secretary of theGovernment of Bangladesh.
The Armed Forces Division is composed of thePrincipal Staff Officer's Office, five Directorates, and an Administrative Company. The Directorates are:
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