Pakistani Army Brigadiers' Goodwill Visit Raises Concerns Over Bangladesh's Strategic Ramu Cantonment
Three senior officers from the Pakistan Army have arrived in Bangladesh for what is officially termed a goodwill visit. However, their planned meeting with the 10th Infantry Division headquarters of the Bangladesh Army in Ramu, near Cox's Bazar, has raised concerns among military analysts in Dhaka.
Brigadier General Nadeem Ahmed, Brigadier General Muhammad Talha, and Brigadier General Saood Ahmed Rao, all reportedly from the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, touched down at Dhaka’s Shah Jalal International Airport today via Emirates flight 586. They were welcomed by both Bangladeshi officials and Pakistani diplomats and escorted to the Radisson Blu Hotel.
Their arrival has garnered attention due to the nature of their passports, which are newly issued, machine-readable, and valid only for a year. Issued between late April and May 2025, these passports lack any travel stamps, as per documents reviewed by Northeast News, hinting at a potentially specific and time-sensitive mission.
The focus of interest is their proposed visit to the 10th Infantry Division HQ in Ramu, a cantonment that has gained strategic significance. According to military sources in Bangladesh, Ramu is evolving into a base for upcoming operations intended to support the Arakan Army, a significant ethnic armed faction active in Myanmar's Rakhine State.
"This is not a routine medical corps visit. Why else would they be heading to Ramu?" remarked a retired Major General of the Bangladesh Army, expressing the widespread concern within certain sectors of the nation's defense community.
The timing of this visit is particularly striking, as the Bangladesh Army is reportedly strengthening its coordination and logistical support for the Arakan Army amidst its growing conflict with Myanmar’s military. Any foreign engagement or surveillance of these operations could further complicate the region’s already intricate dynamics.
Before their scheduled departure for Pakistan via Dubai on July 5, the Pakistani officers are anticipated to engage with senior Bangladeshi military officials, including those from the Directorate General of Medical Services and the Adjutant General’s branch. Despite the absence of official statements from either side, regional security experts are closely observing the visit.
