Reiterating her firm commitment to go to whatever extent necessary for a more modern army in future, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed her firm resolve to continue the necessary reforms and restructuring at various levels of the Bangladesh Army. “I want to firmly say that necessary reforms and restructuring in various levels of Bangladesh Army will continue in future,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing a Darbar of Bangladesh Army held at Chittagong Cantonment today. Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan was present on the occasion.
She said that her government has been taking necessary measures as it believes in development, extension and modernization of the Army.
Urging the military to keep themselves prepared and united for protecting the country’s sovereignty, she said, “It’s my belief that you would brighten the image of the country through your own consideration, professional skills and integrity. You would also enhance your reputation further in UN peacekeeping missions overall in the international arena.”
Hasina said, “As the head of government, I’ve given Army whatever it was possible as per my capacity. I’m reiterating my firm commitment to give whatever necessary in future for a modern army.”
She also expressed her firm belief that the members of the army would discharge their duties sincerely keeping confidence in their leadership, mutual trust, being compassionate, dutifulness and thus maintaining discipline.
Mentioning that her government always wants to run the country as servants of the people rather than rulers, she said, “We’ve received your support in rendering services to the people and it’s my firm belief that it will continue always.”
The premier said that her government is aware of the reality of the army personnel’s honest, tough and risky lives, for which their various welfare issues have always remained under active consideration of the government.
“You know that our resources are limited. Despite these, the present government has been undertaking various development programmes for the army and would also continue this trend in future,” she added.
Apart from launching of the 17 Infantry Division under which one infantry brigade and two infantry battalions were set up in Sylhet, Hasina said that a composite brigade comprising two infantry units and one engineering construction battalion were also set up to ensure security and surveillance of the dreamt-of Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.
She mentioned that many modern arms, ammunition and communication equipment have already been incorporated in the organizational structure of Bangladesh Army as per the Forces Goal-2030, which would as a whole enhance the combat power and
mobility of the force.
Noting that the present government has taken all kinds of steps in modernizing the training method for turning Bangladesh Army into a modern and professional force, Hasina said that the joint training of Bangladesh Army with US, UK, Sri Lanka and India, has enhanced the
confidence of the Bangladeshi army officials and soldiers to a great extent.
Considering the scarcity of training areas of Army, the Prime Minister said that she has already directed the Ministry of Land to allocate 9,000 acres of land at Char Kerring while handing over of entire khas land at Jahazzia Char to Bangladesh Army is under process.
Later, addressing a Darbar of Bangladesh Navy at Bangladesh Naval Academy in Patenga, Hasina said that like other institutional forces, the members of Bangladesh Navy would also have to remain alert round the clock to face any threat for protecting the constitution and maintain the democratic process. Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Farid Habib was present on the occasion.
She also urged the members of the Navy to perform their duties and responsibilities sincerely keeping confidence in their upper leadership, mutual trust, dutifulness, brotherhood and maintaining discipline.
Earlier, the PM inaugurated the ’BMA Bangabandhu Complex’ at Bangladesh Military Academy.
Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the complex in December 2009 and the construction work of the complex has been completed after about four years of
continuous hard work and relentless efforts.
The complex has 48 classrooms, 30-lecture gallery, a model room, a simulator room, a laboratory, a library, various office rooms, VVIP suit, banquet hall, three plazas, car-parking, 16 stairs and 7 lifts in the complex.
-With The Independent input
