Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) marked the 78th founding anniversary of Panchhari Battalion (3 BGB) in Khagrachhari with a day of events on Sunday (1 November).
The battalion also set out its record for the past year: smuggled goods worth about Tk 1 crore, 4,155 cubic feet of illegal timber, and a large quantity of arms and ammunition recovered in separate drives.
The day at battalion headquarters included the hoisting of the national flag, a special darbar, prayers, a lunch, cake cutting, games and a cultural programme.
Special prayers were held at the battalion mosque after the Fajr prayer. The day’s programme then began with the hoisting of the national flag at the unit quarter guard. The commanding officer’s special darbar was held in the battalion recreation room from 9am to 9:20am.
Brigadier General KM Obaidul Haque, commander of 203 Infantry Brigade and Khagrachhari Region, was chief guest at the lunch and cake cutting at battalion headquarters at 1pm.
Khagrachhari Sector Commander Colonel Iftekharul Alam Baig, Marishya Battalion (27 BGB) commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Zahidul Islam Zahid, other military and civilian officials, invited guests and members of the battalion of various ranks attended.
Football and volleyball matches were scheduled for 4pm and a cultural programme by the battalion’s own performers for 7pm.
At a press briefing, Panchhari Battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Rabiul Islam, said that although Panchhari is a relatively low-smuggling area, 3 BGB seized smuggled goods worth about Tk 1 crore and 4,155 cubic feet of illegal timber over the past year. One SMG and 1,500 rounds of ammunition were recovered in two separate drives recently, he said.
On 19 May, he said, two armed members of the JSS surrendered with an assault rifle, a shotgun, 188 rounds of ammunition, 25 smoke rounds and 39 shotgun cartridges.
He said BGB worked professionally under “in aid to civil power” during the 13th parliamentary election and the 2026 referendum, keeping law and order, supporting the civil administration and maintaining a peaceful environment in the constituencies. The battalion also provided the security needed for religious festivals such as Janmashtami and Durga Puja to pass off smoothly, he said.
The battalion’s operations to protect the border, prevent push-ins and smuggling, and stop illegal arms and ammunition from entering are continuing, Lt Col Rabiul Islam said.
Besides its operational work, the unit won the Chattogram Region inter-battalion azan and qirat competition in 2026 and was runner-up in the inter-battalion firing competition.
In his anniversary speech, the commanding officer pledged to carry out the battalion’s duties with honesty, dedication and professionalism under BGB’s motto that it will be a symbol of border security and trust, and asked for everyone’s prayers and support to uphold the battalion’s reputation and tradition.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report