Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday expressed her firm determination to build an efficient, disciplined, well-equipped strong armed forces.
The premier termed the national armed forces the symbol of the country’s unity and sovereignty.
Sheikh Hasina came up with her speech while addressing a prime minister’s Darbar of members of Bangladesh Army at 20 BIR training ground in Dhaka Cantonment after raising the flag of newly established 99 Composite Brigade.
The 99 Composite Brigade has been established comprised of 20 Engineering Construction Battalion, 58 East Bengal Regiment and 34 Bangladesh Infantry Regiment to monitor the implementation of the Padma bridge project and maintain security.
Earlier, the premier hoisted the flag of the 99 Composite Brigade at a function at Army Aviation Hanger. Communications Minister Obaidul Qader hoisted the flag of 58 East Bengal, PM’s Defence Advisor Major General (retd) Trique Ahmed Siddiqui hoisted flag of 34 BIR and Army Chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan hoisted the flag of 20 Engineering Construction Battalion.
Cabinet members, naval chief Vice-Admiral M Farid Habib and air force chief Air Marshal Mohammad Enamul Bari, parliament members and senior civil and military officials were present.
Addressing the Darbar, the prime minister said new infantry, armour, artillery, air defence and engineering units were being raised up to strengthen the Bangladesh Army according to Forces Goal-2030.
She said sophisticated arms and ammunitions were being procured to enhance effectiveness of the army and turn it into a modern force of global standard. “Necessary reforms and reconstitution of Bangladesh Army will continue in future,” she firmly said.
Sheikh Hasina said the government had taken decision in principle to increase the service length of the army personnel from soldier to major for more two years. Approval was also given for elevating the status of the posts of JCO to first class and sergeants to second class.
She said her government had already asked the Land Ministry to allocate 9,000 acres of land at Char Kerring to Bangladesh Army to use for training purposes while process of handing over Char Jahajjiya was underway.
Side by side, process was going on to hand over 657.17 acre land in Ramu and 997 acre land in Ruma for construction of a full-fledged cantonment, she added.
The prime minister said the army was entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the construction of the Padma bridge and other jobs because of its professional skill.
She extended her thanks to the members of the armed forces for their constant support to implement development programmes of the government.
In her speech, Sheikh Hasina highlighted the country’s socio- economic political situation saying the country had achieved tremendous success in various sectors during the tenure of the present government.
Sheikh Hasina urged all to remain careful about the propaganda of a vested section against her government in the name of religion. She said no party except Awami League did so much works for promotion of Islam.
Army Chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan also addressed the Darbar.