Feb polls: NCP pledges basic weapons, military tactics training for 30,000 youths annually
Under the proposal, the training will span 10 weeks, while reservists will undergo refresher training for two weeks each year
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has pledged to provide basic weapons and military tactics training to 30,000 youths every year as part of efforts to strengthen the country's defence capacity.
The plan was outlined in detail in the party's manifesto, which was unveiled this afternoon (30 January) at an event held at the Lakeshore Hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka. Key aspects of the manifesto were presented by NCP Convener Nahid Islam.
According to the manifesto, the training programme aims to develop three categories of manpower: a reserve force, combat-ready units, and units dedicated to disaster response and emergency situations.
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Under the proposal, the training will span 10 weeks, while reservists will undergo refresher training for two weeks each year. The long-term objective is to build a reserve force twice the size of the existing conventional forces.
To expand training facilities, the party has proposed a one-time expenditure of around Tk5,000 crore, along with an annual cost of approximately Tk4,000 crore. However, the manifesto notes that if existing training infrastructure and the current reserve force system are utilised, costs could be reduced by 10-15%.
Plan to acquire advanced missile systems
The manifesto also proposes the acquisition of medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries within the next five years to strengthen air defence capabilities. While foreign technology would be adopted initially, the long-term goal is to develop domestic capacity and move towards local production.
Estimated expenditure for this sector over five years ranges from Tk10,000 crore for systems such as the LY-80 to Tk15,000 crore for systems like the HISAR-O.
