Serve country selflessly, PM tells new Army officers

CHITTAGONG, Dec 27 (UNB): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the newly commissioned members of Bangladesh Army on Wednesday to stand beside people and serve the country selflessly.

"Your first and foremost vow will be to protect the country's independence and sovereignty even with the supreme sacrifice. You'll have to stand beside people and serve the country selflessly," she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the President Parade marking the commissioning of the cadets of 75th BMA Long Course at Bangladesh Military Academy Parade Ground in Bhatiari here.

"You're the children of this country...integral part of people.....so you all have to remain beside general people during their happiness and woes," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the Bangladesh Army is now quite different from the one a decade back in terms of infrastructure, strategy and technology.

"The present Army is much more developed, skilled and smart one due to the combination of modern trainings and equipment," she said adding, "We've enhanced the capacity of Bangladesh Army to a large extent alongside developing its infrastructure in the last nine years."

Noting that the Father of Nation framed the Defence Policy in 1974 to build the Army as a strong and trained force, Hasina said, "We've prepared Forces Goal-2030 following the foresighted defence policy framed by the Father of Nation."

She said it was a memorable day for Bangladesh Military Academy as the cadets are going to be commissioned as lieutenants on completion of three-year training for the first time.

Hasina urged them to show loyalty to their senior officers and sympathy to their subordinates.

She said the Bangladesh Army had been able to earn praises from all quarters by showing competence and professionalism while performing their duties both at home and abroad.

Role of Bangladesh Army in UN peacekeeping missions is appreciated across the globe, she said adding, "We want you will maintain this success."

The Prime Minister said her government is working to turn Bangladesh Military Academy into a modern institution ensuring international standards.

Praising the Army for showing its capacity in various sectors, she said the Army played an important role in setting up shelter camps for displaced Rohingyas, distribution of relief items in disciplined way and preparation of identity cards for them in the recent time.