COMMUNICATION
Communication is an extremely important fundamental human need. “Last but not least”—this can certainly be said about communication. For anything to begin and end properly and successfully, communication is necessary. Many efforts and plans fail because of a lack of communication. Without communication, there is nothing. The fact that I am speaking to you right now is itself communication. If this communication did not exist, could I have told you that communication is an extremely important fundamental need in human life?
Without communication systems or means of communication, none of the nine fundamental needs discussed earlier could be achieved or properly distributed. Therefore, communication can be considered one of the fundamental needs of human life.
One day, try staying completely disconnected from communication, and only then will you be able to understand how important it is. Communication is the key to human development. Roads and highways, railways, aircraft, waterways, telephones and mobile phones, wireless communication, the Internet, computers, books and letters, courier services, and magazines—all of these are means of communication. A person without communication is extremely helpless. As the people of the world continue to progress, the need for all forms of communication continues to increase. Communication is a prerequisite for fulfilling, achieving, or properly distributing all fundamental human needs. The true well-being of humanity can be ensured only by addressing and securing these ten fundamental needs. True well-being requires genuine comprehensive reform. If we pay attention to the needs of every individual, family, country, and indeed all people of the world, it will not be difficult to understand that the ten fundamental needs mentioned above are extremely important for everyone.
The spirit of the Liberation War of our beloved Bangladesh is inherently connected with these fundamental needs. In other words, the sum of these needs is the spirit of the Liberation War.
The Role of Bangladesh’s Veterans in Developing Bangladesh’s Communication System: The Power of Experience in Safe Communication, Infrastructure Development and National Connectivity
Introduction
The communication system is one of the principal foundations of a country’s economic growth, social cohesion, national security, and regional development. Roads, highways, bridges, railways, waterways, ports, and airports, along with modern digital communication, are integral parts of a country’s overall communication infrastructure.
Because of Bangladesh’s geographical diversity, river-dependent environment, high population density, and rapid urbanization, it is extremely important to develop an integrated, safe, and resilient communication system.
In this vast national undertaking, veterans—the former members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces and other security forces—can make significant contributions through their discipline, leadership, engineering knowledge, management skills, disaster-response experience, and spirit of public service.
If the experience gained during their active service can be transformed into a national development resource after retirement, the communication sector can become more efficient, safer, and more people-oriented.
1) The Historical Importance of Military Experience in Communication Infrastructure Development
At different times, the armed forces have played important roles in the development of roads, bridges, culverts, ferry terminals, and other infrastructure in Bangladesh. Particularly in remote areas, disaster-affected regions, and emergency situations, military engineering and logistical capabilities have been highly effective in rapidly restoring communication.
The engineering units of the armed forces are skilled in activities such as bridge construction, installation of temporary bridges, road repairs, river-crossing arrangements, and emergency restoration of communication systems.
This experience makes veterans a valuable human resource for national communication development.
2) Restoration of Communication Systems During Disasters
Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country. Roads and communication systems are frequently damaged by floods, cyclones, storm surges, river erosion, fires, and other disasters.
In such situations, veterans can play an important role in rapidly identifying damaged roads and bridges, determining alternative communication routes, arranging emergency transportation, helping rescue teams and relief supplies reach affected areas, installing temporary bridges and communication systems, and coordinating with local administration.
Their crisis-time leadership and ability to make rapid decisions can make post-disaster communication restoration more effective.
3) Communication Development in Remote and Isolated Areas
Developing communication systems in Bangladesh’s chars, haors, hill regions, coastal areas, and border regions is a particular challenge.
Working in these areas requires an understanding of terrain, risk management, logistical planning, and the ability to complete tasks using limited resources.
Veterans who have gained experience working in difficult and adverse environments during military service can contribute at the local level as advisers, trainers, project managers, or volunteers in communication development projects.
4) Role in Road Safety and Traffic Management
Developing the communication system is not limited to constructing roads and bridges. Safe and disciplined transportation is also an important part of it.
Using veterans’ discipline, leadership, and experience in security management, programmes can be conducted for road safety training, driver training, emergency response systems, accident management, public awareness about traffic discipline, and school- and college-based road safety initiatives.
In particular, retired military drivers and transportation management officers can make significant contributions to professional driving training and safe transportation management.
5) Veterans’ Logistics and Management Skills in the Communication System
One of the major strengths of the armed forces is logistics management.
For many years, the armed forces have used the planning, coordination, and control required to deliver large numbers of people, vehicles, equipment, and necessary supplies to designated locations within limited periods.
This expertise can also be applied to the national communication sector. Particularly in large infrastructure projects, disaster-time transportation, emergency supply systems, and national-level logistics planning, veterans’ experience can be effective.
6) Potential Contributions of Veterans to Rail, Waterway and Air Connectivity
The communication system is an integrated national network. Alongside roads, the development of railways, waterways, and air transportation is also essential.
The technical and management experience of retired veterans from the Bangladesh Navy and Air Force can be utilized in various areas of seaports, waterways, airports, air-traffic support, security, and emergency management.
Similarly, veterans experienced in railway and transportation management can contribute to security, operations, emergency response, and management training.
7) Role in Border and Regional Communication Systems
With the growing economic and strategic importance of Bangladesh, regional connectivity is also becoming increasingly important.
Road, rail, waterway, and commercial connectivity with India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and other countries in South Asia requires effective security and logistics management.
Veterans who have served in border areas possess practical experience in local geography, security, communication, and logistics. This experience can assist in planning and managing communication infrastructure in border regions.
8) Digital Communication and Technology-Based Management
In the twenty-first century, the communication system is no longer limited to physical infrastructure; digital connectivity is also an essential component.
In Smart Bangladesh and future technology-dependent governance, digital communication, emergency communication networks, cybersecurity, and information management are becoming increasingly important.
Veterans skilled in technology and communication systems can provide training and consultancy to government and private institutions in areas such as emergency communication systems, secure information exchange, crisis-time communication, digital security awareness, and command-and-control management.
9) Role in Developing the Younger Generation’s Skills
Veterans’ greatest resource is their experience. When this experience is transferred to the new generation, it becomes a national resource.
Veterans can establish or manage training centres for transportation, driving, logistics, security, emergency management, project management, and leadership.
As a result, alongside utilizing the experience of retired military personnel, opportunities can also be created for youth employment and skills development.
10) Volunteer Communication Services and Social Initiatives
Under the leadership of veterans, local-level volunteer initiatives such as “Veterans Community Mobility & Emergency Response” can be established.
Through such initiatives, it would be possible to keep local communication systems operational during disasters or emergencies, identify alternative routes, assist in transporting patients and injured people, and support the transportation of relief supplies.
If a volunteer communication support team consisting of trained veterans is established in every district or upazila, national disaster management can become even stronger.
11) Veterans’ Role in Maintaining Communication Infrastructure
Alongside constructing new roads and bridges, regular maintenance of existing infrastructure is extremely important.
The armed forces place particular importance on Preventive Maintenance, or preventive maintenance of equipment and infrastructure.
If this culture is applied to the national communication system, infrastructure durability can be increased through the sequence:
Inspection → Risk Identification → Preventive Maintenance → Rapid Repair → Reassessment
12) New Employment and Social Contributions for Veterans
Veterans’ participation in the communication sector will not only contribute to national development; it will also create new employment opportunities and respectable second careers for retired personnel.
A national database can be created of veterans skilled in project management, security, transportation, logistics, training, road safety, disaster management, and infrastructure monitoring.
If this human resource is utilized according to the requirements of government and private infrastructure projects, the concept of “Veteran Experience to National Development” can become a reality.
13) A National Veterans Communication Initiative
To institutionally utilize veterans’ experience in Bangladesh, a National Veterans Infrastructure & Mobility Initiative (NVIMI) can be established.
Its potential activities may include:
Creating a database of veteran engineers and technology professionals;
Providing road safety and disaster-time communication training;
Providing volunteer communication support in remote areas;
Providing consultancy on infrastructure maintenance;
Providing training in transportation and logistics management;
Developing the skills of young people;
Including veteran experts in government and private projects.
Such an initiative can transform veterans’ experience into a well-organized national development resource.
Conclusion
Bangladesh’s communication system is changing rapidly today. The Padma Bridge, metro rail, expressways, modern highways, expansion of railway networks, and development of waterways have opened new dimensions of economic opportunity for the country.
However, building infrastructure alone is not enough to establish a sustainable communication system. Effective management, security, maintenance, disaster resilience, and the efficient utilization of human resources are also necessary.
Veterans are an important part of that human resource. Their discipline, leadership, patriotism, technical knowledge, logistical skills, and disaster-response experience can add a new dimension to the development of Bangladesh’s communication system.
Therefore, the role of veterans should not be limited to the pride of the past. Their experience can become a force for present development and for building the Bangladesh of the future.
Veterans do not seek to govern the state—they can strengthen the state’s capabilities through their experience.
In the field of communication systems, the essence of this vision can be expressed as:
“From experience to competence, from competence to safe communication, and from safe communication to a prosperous Bangladesh.”
Honoring Those Who Served, Supporting Those Who Continue to Serve