Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday praised the role of the armed forces in Bangladesh’s development works and urged them to work with the people to ensure the desired development of the country with the passage of time and technological progress.
“We’ve to build our country, and our armed forces are getting involved in development activities to make that happen,” the PM said while speaking at the graduation ceremony of National Defence College (NDC) and Armed Forces War Course (AFWC) at Sheikh Hasina Complex of Defence Services Command and Staff College at Mirpur Cantonment in Dhaka.
PM Sheikh Hasina said the government relies on the army whenever any tough job needs to be accomplished.
“Navy is working in some places while Air Force is engaged somewhere else,” the premier said in the event.
She added that everyone in the country are working together to build the country and as a result, many important projects are being completed quickly.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed her commitment to take timely actions to modernise the Armed Forces in the light of force’s goal-2030 to strengthen their capability to face multidimensional challenges of the 21st century.
PM Sheikh Hasina said her government is closely monitoring the ever-changing war crafts and technologies, and constantly reviewing the capacity of the country’s Armed Forces to this end.
She added that the Awmi League government has been working to establish the armed forces of the country as the most professional and well-trained with modern technology, in line with the modern world.
The Prime Minister said the Armed Forces members have always worked with integrity, commitment and diligence to help people in times of natural and other disasters.
In addition to that, the premier highly praised the role of the NDC in strengthening civil-military relations and said it has been working along the complex highway of civil-military relations.
The Prime Minister expressed her strong belief that the new graduates of the National Defence College will take the nation towards self-reliance and sustainable development.
She said Bangladesh is playing a significant role in promoting international fraternity and unity.
PM Sheikh Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh did not hesitate to respond to humanitarian calls despite its various limitations, referring to the sheltering of more than 1 million Rohingyas in the country.
“This is why Bangladesh is lauded as a compassionate and respectable member in today’s world,” she said.
This year a total of 53 officials, including 29 Brigadier General of Bangladesh Army, five Commodore of Bangladesh Navy, two Air Commodore and three Group Captain of Bangladesh Air Force, 11 Joint Secretaries of civil service, two DIGs of Bangladesh Police and Director General of the Foreign Ministry took part in the National Defence Course, 2017.
Alongside the Bangladeshi officials, 27 foreign officials, including three each from India and Sri Lanka, ten from Nigeria, two from Saudi Arabia and one each from Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Naizer, Oman, Pakistan, Tanzania and USA took part in the course.
Twenty-five Lieutenant Colonels, one Captain and four Commander of Bangladesh Navy, four Group Captain and one Wing Commander took part In the Armed Forces War Course (AFWC).