After
the independence of Bangladesh, necessity was
felt about setting up of a selection board
for selecting officer for the Armed Forces.
Firstly army took the initiative and accordingly
Army Selection Board was formed in 1974. Similarly
candidates for Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh
Air Force also used to be selected by respective
services headquarters by different boards.
Subsequently, combining all the selection boards,
Inter Services selection Board (ISSB) came
into being in 1976. Since its inception, ISSB’s
main task is to select candidates for the Armed
Forces of Bangladesh.
Selection
of right man in right place is a complex phenomenon.
It is even more complex, when it deals with
Armed Forces because that demands sacrifice
of human life for right cause. Selection in
defence organization has many changes through
the ages. One of the methods, which was used
for centuries and is used even today in some
countries, is the ‘Method of Heredity’.
This method was popular amongst autocratic
rule due to its’ inherent advantage of
continuity in the hierarchy of power to their
family. Later, as the educated and enlightened
public opinion grew up, the method of heredity
lost its credibility. As such, the efficiency
and suitability replaced the old concept of ‘Blue
Blood’. In present days, the modern comprehensive
selection method enables the individuals to
compete for important appointments including
those of armed forces.
During
the period between two World Wars, experiments
were made to evolve a system to put appropriate
men in armed forces. In this process, towards
the end of First World War, Intelligence Test
was introduced in US Army. Subsequently Germany
introduced psychological test in reconstruction
of her war ravaged armed forces from 1927 onwards.
This provided better quality individuals to
German Army. After some more experimentation,
at the end of Second World War, three dimensional
assessment of candidates for selection has
been evolved. Now-a-days this method of selection
is followed in most of the countries including
Bangladesh.
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