Bangladesh National Cadet Corps
Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) a para-military national institution established with the aim of developing moral standards and leadership qualities in young men and women. Its guiding principles are knowledge, discipline and unity.
The Corps initiated its activities in the Dhaka University under the provisions of the Indian Territorial Forces Act, 1923. Captain E. Groom, the first Adjutant of the Corps, imparted military training to 100 students and 16 teachers in November 1927. University Training Corps was officially founded in June 1928. In 1943, the name of the Corps was changed to University Officers Training Corps (UOTC). The members of this Corps took part in the war of liberation in 1971. After liberation, Bangladesh Cadet Corps comprising college students, and Junior Cadet Corps comprising junior students, were formed in addition to University Officers Training Corps. On 23 March 1979 University Officers Training Corps, Bangladesh Cadet Corps and Junior Cadet Corps were all merged by a government order to form Bangladesh National Cadet Corps. At present, its headquarters is located in Sector 6, Uttara, Dhaka.
Headed by a director, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps is composed of eight army regiments, one air regiment and one naval regiment. These regiments are: (i) Ramna Regiment (Greater Dhaka and Tangail districts), (ii) Mainamati Regiment (Greater Comilla, Noakhali and Sylhet districts), (iii) Karnafuli Regiment (Greater Chittagong district and Chittagong Hill Tracts), (iv) Sundarban Regiment (Greater Khulna and Barisal districts), (v) Mahasthan Regiment (Greater Rajshahi, Pabna and Bogra districts), (vi) Jangalbari Regiment (Greater Mymensingh district), (vii) Tista Regiment (Greater Rangpur and Dinajpur districts), (viii) Amjhupi Regiment (Greater Kushtia, Jessore and Faridpur districts), (ix) Kabodak Regiment, Air (Dhaka, Chittagong, Jessore, Lalmonirhat and Shamshernagar), and (x) Sher-e-Bangla Regiment, Navy (Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal and Rajshahi districts).
National Cadet Corps conducts its activities with the aim of imparting military training to young people in order to develop them as a supporting force for the defence of the country, providing a second line of defence in the wake of external aggression, and developing volunteers for responding to various national disasters. Its activities include: military training (military tactics, cartography, organisation and administration); small arms training and firing; blood donation; tree plantation; rendering help and assistance as volunteers during natural calamities; arranging special training programme to help people succeed in different competitive examinations; participating in mass literacy programme; and assisting the police during international sports and traffic weeks.
A cadet belonging to National Cadet Corps is entitled to voluntary participation in the month-long Victory Day Camp, Central Annual Training Camp and in military training free of cost. Regular cadets are allowed to participate in the certificate course on military science in the University of Dhaka, and academic credit towards their Degree (Pass and Honours) final examinations is awarded in the form of addition of marks up to 25 obtained by them in the certificate course over pass marks.
In this way a cadet can avail himself of an opportunity to attain better results in the examination. In addition, cadets are given preference in civil service examinations and in government service. Cadets also enjoy recreational facilities like participating in excursions, picnics, sports, cultural competitions and foreign tours. Bangladesh National Cadet Corps has attained a position of special importance both in government and private spheres, and a plan has been drawn up to bring at least one college and one school in each upazila within the scope of activities of this organisation in the future. [Mir Farjana Sharmin]
