President, PM pay tribute

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday paid glowing tributes to the martyred members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day-2022, report agencies.

The President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, paid the tribute by placing a wreath at the altar of Shikha Anirban (roughly translated as flame eternal) in Dhaka Cantonment in the morning and stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs.

A smartly turned-out contingent of the Army, Navy and Air Force presented a salute at the time. President Hamid also signed the visitors' book there.

Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also paid tribute to the martyred members of Bangladesh Armed Forces on the occasion of Armed Forces Day-2022.

The prime minister paid homage by placing a wreath at the Shikha Anirban (flame eternal) in Dhaka Cantonment this morning, reports UNB.

After laying the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time to show profound respect to the memories of the armed forces martyrs, who made supreme sacrifices during the Liberation War.

A smartly-turned-out contingent drawn from Army, Navy and Air Force presented a guard of honour at that time, while the bugle played the last post.

Later, Sheikh Hasina, also in-charge of the Ministry of Defence, signed the visitors' book kept on the premises of Shikha Anirban.

PM's Security Adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique was present on the occasion.

Earlier, on her arrival at Shikha Anirban, the prime minister was received by chiefs of the three services.

After placing the wreath, the prime minister went to the Armed Forces Division (AFD) where the chiefs of the three services made a courtesy call on her.

On this day during the War of Liberation in 1971, the Bangladesh Armed Forces, comprising Army, Navy and Air Force, came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces which expedited the victory in the Liberation War.

After the independence of the country, this historic day is being observed as the Armed Forces Day every year.

Later at a reception accorded to the gallantry award winning freedom fighters of Bangladesh Armed Forces and their heirs marking the AFD-2022 at Dhaka Cantonment, Prime Minister said that her Awami League party's stay in power for three consecutive terms has helped Bangladesh change a lot and develop towards prosperity.

"We have to advance more as a developing country and become a developed one," she said. "I have formulated that plan. We have formulated Vision 2041 and Delta Plan 2100 for the future generations."

She said that as a victorious nation Bangladesh is highly regarded by the world. Bangladeshis now move around the world keeping their heads high.

"We have achieved that, but we have to advance more in the coming days," she said.

The PM said that the government is constructing homes for the homeless people offering them opportunities to changing their lives.

"We are trying tirelessly. Now at least we can say that the people of the world can't neglect Bangladeshis," she said.

Hasina said that the Awami League as a party and the government never forget the contributions of the freedom fighters.

"And that's why we have taken plans to build Bangladesh in the spirit of the Liberation War."

She said that the country has to advance further creating its solid base so that it graduates as a developed country from the developing one. "We are working towards that goal."

She said that Covid-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, US and European sanctions have put Bangladesh in deep trouble.

She mentioned that prices of essentials have increased as Bangladesh has to buy commodities like edible oil, fuel oil, wheat, corn and lentils from abroad.

"The transportation cost has increased too. So we are facing problems. But we are not sitting idle. I have already urged all not to leave behind one inch of land with cultivation to ease the sufferings of the people and avert the economic recession," she said.

Briefly describing various measures taken for the freedom fighters and their families she said that no one will ever look at them with disrespect and negligence.

She said that the government found out the FFs who suffered negligence and is now taking all out measures to ensure that they get facilities such FF allowance. She said her government has increased the allowances for FFs and it will continue from generation to generation.

"It's our duty to work for those who had taken up arms responding to the call of my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to make the country independent," she added.

She mentioned that there might be different ideologies among the FFs, but the AL government didn't undermine their contribution.

"We are working to preserve the memories of the War of Liberation," she said.

She said that if the young generation knows the history of victory through the memorials of the War of Liberation, they will be inspired to work still harder for the nation.