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President Guard Regiment

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President Guard Regiment
প্রেসিডেন্ট গার্ড রেজিমেন্ট
Active1976 – present
CountryBangladesh
AllegiancePeople's Republic of Bangladesh
TypeSecurity
RoleProtection of the President and Prime minister
VVIPs as per state protocol
SizeOne Regiment
Garrison/HQDhaka Cantonment
Anniversaries5 July[1]
Commanders
Operational CommanderMilitary Secretary to the President (MSP)
CommanderBrigadier General Jahangir Alam

The President Guard Regiment (PGR) is a military unit under the Executive Office of the President of Bangladesh. It is located at Dhaka Cantonment, Banga Bhaban and Ganabhaban. It provides military support for all security functions; including presidential travel, general medical support, emergency medical services, and hospitality services. The PGR is headed by the Military Secretary to the President and the Commander, President Guard Regiment. The regiment was created by President Ziaur Rahman in 1976. It was originally designated as the Presidential Security Force. The PSF was restructured and upgraded to full regimental status by President Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1982 and the new title of President Guard Regiment was adopted.

History

The "predecessor" of the regiment was the President's Bodyguard of Pakistan, which was itself descended from the colonial-era Governor General's Bodyguard. This role was discontinued in 1971 with Bangladeshi independence but the regiment was established in 1976 and restructured in 1982, and charged with ensuring the physical security of the President, visiting heads of state and high-ranking dignitaries.

Mission and function

BTR-80 of President Guard Regiment.

The force is charged with providing security for the President of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, their immediate family members and any other VIPs designated as such by both enacted legislation and government decisions.

All presidential aides-de-camp are assigned under this office. Visiting spouses of foreign Heads of State, Heads of Government and dignitaries also receive their protection.

The commander of the President Guard Regiment is an army major general with the designation of Military Secretary to the President; the equivalent of the U.S. Director of the White House Military Office.[citation needed] The commander reports directly to the president.[2]

The commandant is normally a Brigadier General with responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the regiment.

The regiment consists of eight platoons, each commanded by either a major or a captain. The regiment's uniform varies slightly from that of other units of the Bangladesh Army. Its members are authorised to carry firearms when in uniform, even during peacetime.

See also

References

  1. ^ স্বতন্ত্র প্রেসিডেন্ট গার্ড রেজিমেন্ট (পিজিআর) এর ৩৯ তম প্রতিষ্ঠাবার্ষিকী পালিত 05-07-2014 (in Bengali). Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  2. ^ Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert L, eds. (1989). Bangladesh: A Country Study 2nd. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. pp. 221–222. LCCN 89-600298. OCLC 49223313. Another security organization is the Presidential Security Force. Formed by Ershad while he was chief martial law administrator, the organization's mission is to ensure the physical security of Ershad and his family ... The commander of the Presidential Security Force is an army brigadier who reports directly to the president.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.