BD can protect itself from any external aggression: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Bangladesh has attained all capabilities to protect its independence and sovereignty if it is attacked by any external aggressor and enemy.
She was addressing the President Parade 2021 of the 81st BMA Long Course at Bangladesh Military Academy at Bhatiari in Chattogram, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban, reports UNB.

"We believe in peace, the Father of the Nation has given us the foreign policy 'Friendship to all, malice to none', we believe in that foreign policy, but if we're attacked by enemies from outside, we've attained our capabilities to protect our independence and sovereignty," said the Prime Minister.
She asked the new cadets to devote themselves towards protecting the independence and sovereignty of the country as their prime task, if needed the highest sacrifice.
At the function, Battalion Senior Under Officer of the 81st BMA Long Course Abdullah Al Islam received the "Sword of Honour" as the best all-around cadet and company junior under officer Imrul Kayes got the "Army Chief Gold Medal" for his best performance in military subjects.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed handed over both the "Sword of Honour" to Abdullah Al Islam and the "Army Chief Gold Medal" to Imrul Kayes.
Extending her best wishes and greetings to all the new officers on the occasion of passing out, the premier said by taking oath today they are entrusted with the sacred duty of defending the great independence and sovereignty of the motherland.
"You've to remain alert and ready always to fulfil this responsibility. You'll have to remain beside the people of the country... you'll have to perform your duties to meet all the necessities of people and share happiness and sorrows equally," she said.
She also asked them to uphold the spirit of the independence and put it above everything as this independence has come in lieu of the blood of millions of martyrs. "You've to inspire yourselves and instill the spirit of independence in you."
Mentioning that "Bangabandhu Complex" has been constructed at the BMA with all kinds of sophisticated facilities for internal training of cadets, Sheikh Hasina said: "I hope that this modern training system will play a pivotal role in building a trained and modern army."
She also noted that today's BMA is a successful embodiment of the military academy that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of providing advanced training and developing capable leadership.
Chief of Army Staff Gen Shafiuddin also spoke at the programme.