Photo: Collected
Once a Soldier, always a Soldier: A Lifetime of Discipline, Patriotism and Service to Bangladesh
On 5 November 1982, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Bangladesh Army. Every year, this day reminds me not only of the beginning of my military life but also of the people, values and sacrifices that shaped me. Above all, I remember my parents, particularly my mother, whose last wish was to see me join the Armed Forces of Bangladesh.
In November 1980, I attended the four-day Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB) assessment while my seriously ill mother was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Upon my return, she was delighted to learn that I had been selected. She repeatedly encouraged me to join the Army, but sadly passed away on 23 November 1980, before she could witness my commissioning. Five of her sons eventually served in the Army, Navy and Air Force, and four of her grandsons are also serving in the Army. Her wish thus became a family legacy of service to the country.
I joined the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) on 2 February 1981 as a member of the 7th Bangladesh Military Academy Long Course. Having lost my mother shortly before joining, I found the initial days particularly difficult. Military training was demanding, and the pressure of adjustment was immense. The sincere friendship and comradeship of a few close course mates helped me overcome those difficult days. Some of those friends are no longer with us, but their kindness remains unforgettable.
Eighty cadets, including a few from the previous course, eventually became officers. Our passing-out parade took place on 4 November 1982, followed by our commissioning the next day. Looking back, I realize that BMA did much more than prepare us for military duties. It helped shape our character, discipline, resilience, leadership and sense of responsibility. These qualities are among the most valuable lifelong contributions of military training.
One lesson repeatedly emphasized by our Term Commanders, Platoon Commanders and other instructors has remained with me throughout my life: “You are what you are in the dark.” Its meaning is profound. A person’s real character is not established merely by performing well when a superior is watching. Honesty, sincerity, discipline and professional responsibility must remain unchanged even when nobody is supervising us. A trained military officer must perform duties with the same dedication whether being observed or not. The real test of training is whether we maintain the same standards when nobody is watching. This is not simply a military lesson; it is a fundamental principle of responsible citizenship and leadership.
BMA’s motto, “Chiro Unnata Mamo Shir” (চির উন্নত মম শির)—”Ever High Is My Head,” inspired by our National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, expresses courage, dignity and the determination to stand upright in the face of challenges. BMA’s combination of military and academic education, physical training, field exercises and leadership development plays an important role in preparing future officers. Its training system teaches cadets to lead by example, work as a team, accept responsibility, respect others and remain steadfast under pressure. It is not merely a place where military officers are trained; it is an institution where future leaders are shaped.
My first posting was with 6 East Bengal at Guimara in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). My military life began with an SMG and live ammunition, a memorable introduction to the responsibilities of an infantry officer. Over the following years, I served in different operational, instructional, intelligence, staff and command appointments. I served in four infantry battalions and three Bangladesh Rifles battalions, later known as BDR and now BGB. I also had the privilege of raising the 24th Bangladesh Infantry Regiment as its first Commanding Officer.
The CHT remained a particularly significant part of my service. I spent more than six and a half years in different operational responsibilities, including camp and sub-zone command, intelligence duties and command of Ruma and Jaminipara zones. My responsibilities also included remote border-demarcation duties along the Mizoram border. These assignments taught me that military leadership requires much more than command authority. It demands sound judgement, patience, courage, compassion and an understanding of the people among whom we serve. A good officer must know how to lead, but equally importantly, must understand how to serve.
I was also fortunate to serve at Army Headquarters, including in the Military Training Directorate, and in intelligence organizations, including as an Instructor Class A at the School of Military Intelligence. My professional journey took me to United Nations peacekeeping missions in Mozambique and Liberia, where I served as a Military Observer and undertook team leadership and deputy sector command responsibilities. I also had opportunities for overseas education and international engagement, including serving as an official interpreter during the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s visit to China in 2002. These experiences broadened my understanding of leadership, international cooperation and the responsibility of representing Bangladesh abroad.
I retired on 1 February 2008, but retirement never meant an end to my commitment to service. Since retirement, I have devoted much of my time to language education and people-to-people relations. Through my language academy, I have helped more than 3,500 learners study Chinese, alongside hundreds of learners of English and Bengali. I mention this not to highlight personal achievements, but to make one point: the values acquired through military service can continue to benefit society long after a person leaves uniform.
Once a soldier, always a soldier. To me, this means that retirement may end an appointment, but it should never end one’s commitment to honesty, discipline, responsibility and service to the country. The uniform may no longer be worn, but the values it represents must remain alive in everyday conduct. The real test of military training is not only how an officer performs in uniform, but also how that officer conducts life after taking it off. Military training should produce not only competent officers but also responsible human beings who contribute positively to society throughout their lives.
Throughout my military life, one thought served as a personal motivation: “There are rewards that money and benefits cannot buy.” Military service brings its own challenges, sacrifices and hardships. It is not a profession to be chosen solely for salary, status or benefits. Its deeper rewards are the pride of serving the motherland, the confidence developed through demanding training, the lifelong bond of comradeship, the opportunity to lead and the satisfaction of contributing to something greater than oneself. Army life offers continuous training, education and opportunities for personal and professional development. It builds qualities that remain valuable throughout life. These are rewards that money alone cannot buy.
Why should more capable young Bangladeshis consider joining the Armed Forces today? Bangladesh is an economically progressing country with enormous potential and an important geopolitical position at the meeting point of South and Southeast Asia, beside the Bay of Bengal. Its growing economy, maritime interests, international connections and responsibility to protect national sovereignty require strong, modern and professionally capable Armed Forces. A stronger Armed Forces is not built by equipment alone; it requires educated, physically fit, morally grounded and professionally competent people who can lead with integrity.
The security environment is also changing rapidly. Modern Armed Forces require capable leaders who understand military technology, cyber security, artificial intelligence, maritime security, aviation, engineering, international relations and modern warfare. The Army, Navy and Air Force offer different but equally honorable opportunities for young people with different talents and professional interests. Their responsibilities extend beyond traditional defense to include disaster response, humanitarian assistance, international peacekeeping and support to national development when called upon.
I would therefore encourage capable young women and men to consider a career in the Bangladesh Armed Forces. They should join with a clear understanding that military life demands discipline, physical and mental resilience, integrity, loyalty to the Constitution and an unwavering commitment to Bangladesh. They must be prepared to put duty before personal comfort and national interest before individual advantage. We need not simply more people in uniform, but better people in uniform: educated, honest, courageous, compassionate, technologically aware and capable of leading by example. The country must continue to attract and nurture such talent through quality professional training, fair opportunities, merit-based leadership and institutional excellence.
My sincere gratitude goes to my parents, BMA Term Commanders, Platoon Commanders, instructors, commanders, colleagues and course mates who helped shape my life. I remain grateful to the Bangladesh Army and the Armed Forces of Bangladesh for providing opportunities to learn, serve and grow.
On my commissioning anniversary, my message to the younger generation is simple: choose a life that gives you purpose, develops your character and allows you to contribute meaningfully to your country. If you have the aptitude, courage and commitment, consider wearing the uniform with pride. Military service is a special honour, a lifelong responsibility and a source of pride that cannot be measured in money or material benefits.
Ultimately, the greatest contribution of military training is not merely to produce officers who can command troops, but to develop human beings who understand discipline, honesty, courage, responsibility and service. These qualities are needed not only in the Armed Forces but throughout our society.
Once a soldier, always a soldier. Once committed to Bangladesh, always committed to its people, sovereignty and future.
Long live the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Long live Bangladesh.
Lt Col Md Shahadat Hossain, psc (Retd.)
Adjunct Professor, Institute of Professional Language
Bangladesh Maritime University
Former Infantry Officer, Bangladesh Army
Email: shahadatb@gmail.com
