Terming the Armed Forces the symbol of the country’s unity and sovereignty, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government would gradually raise the retirement age of the members of the Armed Forces at all levels. “The stance of the present government regarding the Armed Forces is clear and transparent. We want a skilled, disciplined, well-equipped and strong Armed Force,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing the PM’s Darbar for the Army personnel after raising the flag of 99 Composite Brigade held at Dhaka cantonment. Hasina also took questions at the Darbar and gave their answers. Army Chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan gave the address of welcome while PM’s Defence Adviser Maj Gen (Retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique was also present.
Hasina mentioned that her government has given approval in principle to increase the job duration from soldier to Major ranks by two years as well as upgrading the JCO post to 1st class and sergeant post to 2nd class, decided in principle to increase the job duration of Let Col and above officials by one years initially then by another one year.
Mentioning that a vested quarter is out to stop the country’s advancement by confusing people through their religious fanatics and false propaganda, Hasina said the fact was that it was Bangabandhu who had established Islamic Foundation in the country to serve Islam, gave a land permanently at Tongi for holding Ijtema apart from banning liquor and gambling.
In this regard, she said that on May 5 this year, the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir-Hefajat men set fire to Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and also burnt hundreds of copies of holy Quran.
“How could they do politics in the name of Islam as well as ‘Hefajat’ Islam burning copies of Quran. They (BNP, Jamaat, Shibir and Hefajat) confused people through their false propaganda,” she told the Darbar.
Mentioning that the present government believes in people’s empowerment and ensured the voting rights of common people, Hasina also said that her government has erased the bad name of the country after assuming office this time. During the previous BNP-Jamaat alliance government, she said that the country became champion five times in corruption.
“Bangladesh is not now a country of militancy, terrorism and corruption as it is now a role model in global flora …Country’s people would live in peace, country would be economically developed and Bangladesh would make its place as a dignified nation in global arena,” she hoped.
Noting that the aim of her government is to turn every institution of the country into modern and time befitting one, Hasina said that her government has been implementing various programmes to modernise the armed forces.
She also stressed the need for gaining proper training on modern arms so that they could discharge their duties with dignity in the global arena, especially in the UN peacekeeping missions.
Hasina said that the 99 composite Brigade comprising two infantry units and one engineering construction battalion launched its journey today through raising its flag in a bid to monitor the security of implementation of the dream Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.
-With The Independent input
