ASYMMETRIC WARFARE: BANGLADESH PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Bangladesh’s security threat emanates from both external and internal sources. The important
consideration is to identify the asymmetry that Bangladesh may face from these sources. Future
military confrontations will be multi-dimensional with non-linear operations characterized by
movement, maneuver and high lethality. These necessitate Bangladesh to conserve her limited resources
and employ those for maximum effect with minimum cost. On the other hand, internal conflicts
caused by non-state actors may pose unexpected yet serious threat to national security. These threats
originate from within and can escalate to dangerous level in dimension and severity. If not addressed
at the nascent stage, the actors concerned may gain strength and extend the effort into a protracted
campaign, posing severe threats to Bangladesh’s national sovereignty and integrity. Strategic interaction
and theory of conflict outcome suggests adoptions of opposite approach interactions for Bangladesh
since it is weak actor in any future conflict. Adoption of asymmetric warfare strategy will allow
Bangladesh to maximize relative strengths, exploit weaknesses and gain greater freedom of action.
The blending of conventional and unconventional warfare (UW) can be done from the beginning of
hostilities with a view to upsetting the decision cycle of the enemy through widespread disruption of its
force facilitation and time lines. In contrast, political solution to internal issues can be the prime option
in defusing any internal conflicting situation. Dealing with the unexpected requires rapid adjustment
to the actual situation and hence the necessity of a doctrine, that must create flexible, creative and
well-thought in defusing our asymmetric advantages.