Be the soldiers for prosperous country

PM tells newly-commissioned army officers

FE Team | Published: December 05, 2022 00:34:09

CHATTOGRAM, Dec 04 (UNB): Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the newly-commissioned army officers to be the soldiers in Bangladesh's fight to become a developed and prosperous country by 2041.
"We have earned the status of a developing country in 2021. Now we want to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country by 2041. Today's fresh officers should be the soldiers of 2041, who will build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh," she said.
The premier was addressing the President Parade-2022 of the 83rd BMA long course at Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) in Bhatiari.
She asked the newly-commissioned officers to carry out their sacred duty towards the country being imbibed with the spirit of patriotism.
"Today you are going to be a proud officer of the Bangladesh Army after the completion of a long training. I believe you will properly perform the sacred responsibility which has been bestowed on you through oath to protect the motherland, the independence and sovereignty of the country," she said.
She thanked all members of the armed forces for playing a proper role in every disaster and tough time.
The premier extended her sincere greetings to the guardians of the newly-commissioned officers for letting their children serve the motherland.
She said her government has taken Bangladesh to the path of development following a principle of 'friendship to all and malice towards none."
"We want peace not war. The Father of the Nation said 'friendship to all and malice towards none.' We've been following it (the main principle of foreign policy) properly and taking the country forward on a development trajectory accordingly," she said.
Focusing on her government's steps to modernise the Armed Forces including Bangladesh Army, the PM said she established National Defence College (NDC) in 1998, Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in 1999, Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT), Armed Forces Medical College.
She said her government was the first to create scope for women to be recruited as army officers in 2000 and as soldiers in 2013.
In line with the Defence Policy, 1974 framed by Bangabandhu, her government designed the Forces Goal 2030 and started its implementation, assuming power for the second term in 2009, she said.
Hasina said her government established Bangladesh Peace Building Centre in 2019, framed the National Defence Policy in 2018, set up Aerospace and Aviation University and modernised Combined Military Hospitals (CHMs).
In order to strengthen the country's defence system, she said, the government set up three fresh infantry divisions, three brigades and 58 units of the Bangladesh Army.
Earlier, on her arrival at the BMA Parade Ground, the PM was received by the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC), the Chattogram area commander of Bangladesh Army and also GOC of 24th Infantry Division and the BMA Commandant.
The PM took salute from a specially decorated saluting dais and reviewed an impressive march-past as the chief guest at the parade ground.
She along with Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and BMA Commandant Major General SM Kamrul Hassan inspected the parade riding on an open jeep.
Battalion Senior Under Officer of the 83rd BMA Long Course Labib Johair Noor Anan received the coveted "Sword of Honour" as the best all-around cadet, while Company Senior Under Officer SM Jahirul Islam Niloy the "Army Chief Gold Medal" for the best performance in military subjects.
The prime minister handed over the "Sword of Honour" and the "Army Chief Gold Medal" to them for their outstanding performance.