This project profile page contains information about the Bangladesh Armed Forces project including project results, impact, and effective practices. This page will be updated annually in line with EIF project reporting requirements.
| T/PCC | Updates | |||||||||
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||
| Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | Total | % | |
| Bangladesh | 263 | 4.00% | 317 | 4.87% | 507 | 7.41% | 533 | 7.61% | 473 | 8.06% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experts on Mission | 2 | 6.06% | 2 | 5.88% | 5 | 11.36% | 8 | 14.04% | 6 | 10.71% |
| Formed Police Units | 152 | 25.29% | 149 | 30.79% | 138 | 30.00% | 126 | 30.96% | 98 | 33.00% |
| Individual Police | 7 | 14.29% | 3 | 11.11% | 9 | 23.08% | 12 | 25.53% | 9 | 21.95% |
| Staff Officer | 22 | 19.47% | 25 | 18.52% | 26 | 16.88% | 28 | 17.95% | 25 | 20.83% |
| Troops | 80 | 1.39% | 138 | 2.37% | 329 | 5.35% | 359 | 5.66% | 335 | 6.26% |
The Bangladesh Armed Forces began integrating women into its services in 2000 with the commissioning of women officers, followed by the recruitment of women soldiers in 2006. Today, more than 4,000 women serve across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, both at home and in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. The Armed Forces have introduced a range of measures to promote and retain women’s participation, including six months of paid maternity leave, flexible working arrangements, and equal access to military academies and training institutions. Four of the country’s thirteen military schools are exclusively for girls and serve as feeder institutions for recruitment.
Bangladesh is a strong advocate for gender equality in peacekeeping and is currently finalising a Defence Action Plan to support the implementation of its National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) (2019–2025). The Armed Forces have also established Gender Advisor roles and a network of Gender Focal Points to help mainstream gender across the institution. As a top contributor to United Nations peacekeeping, Bangladesh continues to prioritise the deployment of women personnel across all mission roles. Since 2018, women peacekeepers have received pre-deployment training at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT). The Armed Forces also organise seminars and workshops to promote dialogue on gender parity in peace operations and continue to strengthen an inclusive, gender-responsive institution aligned with global standards.
The Bangladesh Armed Forces project involves the construction of a three-story accommodation facility for uniformed women at BIPSOT. This dedicated space will enable BIPSOT to accommodate up to 240 women trainees annually—significantly expanding its capacity to train military women for United Nations peacekeeping. Until now, women peacekeepers were housed in repurposed male accommodation, which limited their access to equal training conditions. The new facility is designed to reflect both operational needs and cultural considerations and has been designed with a reinforced foundation to allow for the addition of extra floors in the future, ensuring flexibility to meet evolving training needs.
BIPSOT, established in 1999, is a key national training institution responsible for preparing members of the armed forces and police for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. It is equipped with a range of training infrastructure including simulation rooms, language labs, driving simulators, and field training areas. Although women have been trained at BIPSOT since 2018, the lack of appropriate accommodation has remained a barrier. This project aligns with Bangladesh’s NAP on WPS (2019–2025) and broader efforts by the Bangladesh Armed Forces to create an inclusive, gender-responsive peacekeeping training environment. Through this initiative, Bangladesh joins the global network of countries supported by the Elsie Initiative Fund.
US$997,336
US$997,336
Bangladesh Armed Forces – BIPSOT
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
24 months
28 March 2022
14 April 2025
31 March 2028
/
24 months
The project will deliver a three-story, women-only accommodation facility at BIPSOT, designed with a reinforced foundation to support future expansion up to six storeys. The building will include essential living, dining, training, and recreational spaces, and will be fully equipped with the necessary furniture and fittings to support a safe, functional, and gender-responsive living and training environment.
The project is expected to significantly increase the number of uniformed women who can be trained at BIPSOT each year, from 80 to 240. By providing dedicated accommodation and a supportive environment, the project will enhance women’s access to peacekeeping training and contribute to a larger, more prepared pool of women eligible for United Nations deployment.
A National Defence Policy on Gender Mainstreaming has been drafted and is awaiting adoption by the Bangladesh Government
Challenges of Bangladeshi Women Working in the National Security Institutions, Journal of Gender and Power, Vol 15, No 1, 2021
In Brief: Women Peace and Security, 2023 Update, UN Women Bangladesh, June 2023
The Bangladesh Armed Forces completed a MOWIP barrier assessment in 2022, funded by Global Affairs Canada and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh Armed Forces MOWIP Barrier Assessment Report, 2023
