The Military Hardware Display 2019 is a behemoth event to show the people the might and capability of the Armed Forces.
The 8-day-long event at the National Parade Ground in the capital opened on the eve of Independence Day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday inaugurated the exhibition. She opened the display in the afternoon by cutting a ribbon and releasing balloons.
The prime minister witnessed an attractive fly past of six war planes of the Air Force.
The prime minister witnessed an eye catching fly past of six war planes of the Air Force and a 20-member team of the Bangladesh Army took part in para-jumping from helicopters.
Army Major Md Aminur Rahman said the Display has attractions like parachute jumping, zip lining, SWAD trail, unarmed combat, paintball shooting, knife throwing, bunkers, armored vehicles, and artillery equipment.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force collectively display their hardware and engage the public with zip-lining, para-military training shows, and assisted parachute jumping.
There is also a display of jungle survival where our soldiers are trained to survive on eating just about anything, including snake and fox meat. They also have the added culinary skill of making a snake meat biriyani!
The displays
The entire event is a good wholesome way to spend a day out with the family. Many people on Wednesday, were in awe of the armed forces equipment.
There are different exhibition stalls with modern military armour, artillery equipment, tanks, Navy ships, Air Force planes and various types of warfare infantry.
Some students greatly enjoyed a guided tank tour. Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, they said this is the first time in their lives they have come so close to objects they only see in movies and on television. “We also really enjoyed the para commando pavilion a lot,” they said.
People also greatly enjoyed the parachuting and zip-lining. There was also fire and knife throwing.
When and What
The Inter Public Service Relations (ISPR) department arranged a media brief of Military Hardware Display 2019 on Wednesday, where the ISPR Director, Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Ibn Zayed, Commander Shafiqol Islam of the Armed Forces Division (AFD), Major Md Aminur Rahman from the Army, Commander Fayzul Islam from the Navy, and Wing Commander Mohammad Nur Ullah of the Air Force, spoke.
Commander Shafiqol Islam of the Armed Forces Division said the event will remain open till March 31 from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm .
The exhibition will remain open on March 31 from noon to 5:30pm for family members of the Armed Forces and students of Army, Navy, and Air Force education institutions, he added.
Commander Shafiqol said there are 55 stalls at the Military Hardware Display. There are 32 stalls of the Army, 10 Navy stalls, and 9 of the Air Force. There are another 4 stall with exhibitions on the Liberation War, formation of the country, UN peacekeeping missions, and modernization of the Armed Forces.
Commander Fayzul Islam said Bangladesh has a maiden display of a warship made by Bangladesh.
Wing Commander Mohammad Nur Ullah said Air defence radars have been installed in Cox's Bazar to monitor our coastline. Apart from this, Attack Helicopters, unmanned Air Vehicle Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs) will be added as part of the Air Force's modernization.
C-130J MK5 transport planes will be added this year and more K-8W jet training aircrafts are in the process of being bought.
