The Bangladesh National Reserve Force (NRF) is being raised with the aim of ensuring the people’s participation alongside the regular armed forces of Bangladesh during war to protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty against external aggressors.

By 2021 the reserve force is to be raised completely with at least 1,000,000 (one million) members under the supervision of the armed forces.

Under the national service scheme the reservists will be imparted with necessary training in warfare and non-combat vocational training so that they can effectively engage in development activities too.

Citizens aged 16 to 30 will receive the one year reservist training and remain enlisted as a member of the National Reserve Force until he/she reaches the age of 45.

A percentage of professionals from each sector, including disciplined forces will receive reservist training. It shall be mandatory for applicants intending to join the Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, BGB and BCG to serve one year as a reservist.

Half of the jobs in government, semi-government and autonomous industries will be reserved for members of the National Reserve Force (NRF) by 2026.

Refresher training for members of the NRF will be provided every three years, while general mobilisation exercises will be held in five year intervals. In the event of a mobilisation up to 200,000 reservists could be mobilised in the space of one or two weeks and the total force will take up to four weeks to fully mobilise against external military threats.