Inside Bangladesh-Pakistan military cooperation: What’s driving the partnership?

Bangladesh deepens military cooperation with Pakistan

Bangladesh’s defence relationship with Pakistan is deepening as Dhaka increasingly engages in military technology cooperation with Islamabad. Fighter pilots and technical specialists from Bangladesh have been sent to Pakistan for advanced training, while Pakistan’s Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) has proposed upgrades to Bangladesh’s ageing tank fleet. These moves indicate a growing partnership that could give Dhaka access to more sophisticated defence systems, raising questions about potential missile technology transfers.

Pakistan’s growing influence in Dhaka

Since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Pakistan’s military presence in Bangladesh has expanded. The student-led uprising that toppled Hasina’s government created a political vacuum, and Dhaka’s interim leadership under Muhammad Yunus began steering foreign policy away from India. Analysts suggest this shift allowed Islamabad to reassert itself in Bangladesh’s defence and strategic sectors.

Reports indicate that Pakistan has supplied defence materials, including ammunition, and initiated high-level military dialogues. Analysts argue that Pakistan sees Bangladesh as a strategic partner to counterbalance India’s dominance in South Asia. “The revival of military training programmes, easing of trade restrictions, and frequent visits by Pakistani delegations underscore a deliberate effort to tighten Islamabad’s grip on Dhaka’s armed forces,” experts note. This trend marks a significant realignment in regional geopolitics, with Bangladesh increasingly positioned within Pakistan’s sphere of influence.

High-level military engagements

Since August 2024, several Pakistani military officials have visited Bangladesh, signalling closer relations. In October 2025, Lieutenant General Tabassum Habib, Director General of Joint Staff, led a four-day official visit to Dhaka, one of the highest-level engagements since the interim government assumed office. Earlier, in October 2024, Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, met Bangladesh’s army chief to discuss joint training and cooperation. In November 2025, the Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Saif docked at Chattogram on a goodwill visit.

These visits, along with delegations from Pakistan’s ISI and defence industry, reflect a coordinated strategy to rebuild trust and establish long-term defence collaboration. Senior Pakistani officials, including HIT’s leadership, have proposed modernising Bangladesh’s armoured fleet. While missile technology transfers remain speculative, the involvement of HIT and China’s parallel support suggests an increasing possibility of advanced systems reaching Dhaka.

Ultimately, Bangladesh is emerging as a strategic arena where Pakistan and China jointly seek to counterbalance India. This evolving alignment underscores a new geopolitical reality: Bangladesh is no longer merely a passive observer but an active participant in South Asia’s shifting defence landscape.