BDR Camp Jessore is the camp of Bangladesh Rifles (now called Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB) in Jhumjhum Pur, Jessore. For years it has been a major security stronghold and public facility in the region. It is responsible at once for border guard duties and life in a neighbouring community.
Location & accessibility
The camp is located at Jhumjhum Pur, a locality of Jessore City in southwestern Bangladesh near the Bangladesh–India border (Benapole) Its hinterland is clearly both of strategic importance for defense and for local civil activities.
History of BDR Camp Jessore
- Prior to 2010, the BDR was the border security force, before being renamed the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
- BGB is responsible for securing Bangladesh’s 4,427 km frontier, barking at smugglers, as well as its own internal security.
- The camp, in Jessore, has traditionally been used as a base for local border battalions, such as the 22nd Rifles Battalion, and has contributed to public safety and the economy in the area.
BDR Camp & Education
Adjacent to the camp, Border Guard Public School, Jessore was established in 1996 as Rifles School.
- It is situated at Jhumjhum Pur & provides education from pre-primary to secondary school level following the Jessore Education Board.
- Spread over almost 2 acres, the school has about 30 full-time teachers, who teach children of both border guard families and civilians.
- It was renamed with its current name after the force was restructured in 2010.
Role in Border Security & Anti‑Smuggling
The forces at the camp are also engaged in activities such as preventing goods like fertilisers from being smuggled into India. In 2009, local BDR officials in the nearby town of Benapole sought the help of citizens to stop the smuggling of fertilizers on a request from local authorities. They partner with other agencies to curb wildlife trade, which respects local livelihoods and complies with national laws.
The 2009 Mutiny: Connection to Jessore Camp
A serious mutiny erupted in the BDR in Pilkhana, Dhaka, at the end of February 2009, spreading to other towns such as Jessore in quick succession.
- According to news reports from Jessore, the 22nd Rifles Battalion at Jhumjhum Pur, BDR jawans, too, participated in the uprising and a number of them were arrested.
- It sent shockwaves through the local community and exposed difficulties with policing border forces, until the camp was reformed and still exists, known as BGB.
Social & Safety Impact
For instance, Rights Jessore, one of the local organizations, has a history of partnering with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on social issues, including awareness campaigns against human trafficking. This demonstrates a collaboration between borders and civil society to secure local wellbeing and law.
Why BDR Camp Jessore Matters
Strategic Location
The camp, which is located close to the India border, plays an important role in protecting the national boundaries and controlling movement across the border.
Education & Community Support
Here, you will find a public school that cater to children of uniformed personnel and local residents.
Law & Order
The camp is assisting anti-smuggling efforts and local policing, filling a safety gap and helping to build trust.
Historical Significance
It is a historic moment in Bangladesh’s civil-military relations as it relates to the 2009 BDR mutiny.
BDR Camp Jessore (now BGB camp) in Jhum Jhum Pur Jessore, unlike any military outpost, it’s a bastion for the community. It straddles national defense and local development, playing a key role in border security and education and having a long, tangled history — including participation in the 2009 uprising.
If you’re passing through or curious—maybe check out the Border Guard Public School, keep an eye out for the nearby bank and businesses, or just ask locals about all the things that have happened here—you’ll discover BDR Camp Jessore a major thread in the tapestry of Jessore life.
