WHY China is the Prime Source for Military Equipment of Bangladesh Armed Forces?

Bangladesh Armed Forces is the second biggest customer of the Chinese military equipment. Most of the equipment of Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy is Chinese! Why?

Well, after the independence of Bangladesh, it was a very weak nation in terms of economy & politics. Billions of dollars were donated from overseas donors to build a nation upon a ruin. But, pathetically, most of those money and assistance been engulfed by the leaders of the then Bangladesh Awami League and their family members. 

As a direct result Bangladesh faced the worst famine of the 70s. People starved to death and humanity died. On the other hand, government wasn’t aware about the poor quality of equipment of Bangladesh Armed Forces. 

Until 1976 Bangladesh Armed Forces was weak. President Ziaur Rahman took steps to modernize the forces. He visited China, build diplomatic relation with Beijing. And, sought help to upgrade Bangladesh’s military. Meanwhile, western world and Soviet Union holding world’s most advanced weaponry. But Bangladesh wasn’t able to grab’em because they wanted us to be sided with them. Zia decided to stay neutral, made Bangladesh a non-aligned state during the cold-war era. 

In contrast, Beijing don’t attached their foreign policy with their exported military hardware. They don’t push for agenda as a condition to buy their weapons. Which made China a reliable source for Bangladesh’s defense equipment source. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, new Russia become one of our reliable friend in need. By times, Dhaka also developed military-technology relations with some other nations too, like, Italy, Spain, France, Ukraine, and some other European nations. Now we have a modestly diversified source for military equipment.