National Defence Course (ND Course)
Aim of the Course
The National Defence Course aims to prepare senior officers of the Armed Forces and Civil Services of Bangladesh including Allied Officers for the higher responsibility in the direction and management of national strategy on security and development.
Objectives of the Course
To develop Course Members’ strategic vision and Leadership qualities.
To enhance Course Members’ knowledge on developing Policy and Strategy on national security and development issues at the strategic level.
To increase Course Members’ understanding of the factors influencing national policy and strategy making.
To improve Course Members’ personal qualities including individual and interpersonal skills.
Course Duration
The Course is of 47 weeks duration and is distributed into four (04) terms. Each terms consists of 11-12 weeks.
Course Curriculum
National Defence Course is a multidisciplinary course tailored to suit the stated aim and the objectives. The 11 months long course is divided into four terms. Each term is 11 to 12 weeks long, concentrating on related key aspects. The theme moves from Bangladesh to global issues and to international relations. It focuses on analysis of Bangladesh’s National Security and a look into the future. Course curriculum includes visits and tour programmes, designed to support the terms. An outline of the terms are:
Term-1 The Nation State and Socio-Political Studies
This term aims to introduce Course Members to the concept of National Security and give them a broad understanding of the social and political factors that impact it.
Term-2 Economy and Development Studies
To develop a comprehensive understanding of core economic principles, global economic dynamics, and Bangladesh’s evolving economic landscape, with particular emphasis on identifying national prospects and strategic opportunities. This term will equip participants with the analytical capacity to evaluate economic policies and formulate effective strategies that contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of Bangladesh
Term-3 International Relations, Global, and Regional Studies
This term aims to give the Course Members a broad view of today’s world from different national and multinational perspectives to find out and deal with the current challenges to global security.
Term-4: Global, Regional, and National Security Studies
This term explores the factors affecting national security from theoretical and contextual perspectives by focusing on concepts, strategies, military power, defence industrialization, regional and international security environments, defence and foreign policies including internal and external issues impacting Bangladesh. It also addresses strategic leadership issues, planning, and policy formulation at the strategic level.
Graduation
On successful completion of the course, the esteemed course members are awarded with the post-nominal symbol ‘ndc’ through a graduation ceremony held in a grand setting. It is usually graced by the Head of the Government or Head of the State.