A special Darbar of Border Guard Bangladesh’s (BGB) Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and distribution of medals and awards, and reception of award-winning Freedom Fighters were held as part of the BGB Day-2024 celebration at the force’s headquarters in Pilkhana on Monday.
On this occasion, awards were given to officers for their bravery and meritorious work in BGB.
During his speech, the DG expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her gracious presence at the event organized on the occasion of BGB Day on March 4. He congratulated all those associated with the successful completion of the BGB Day parade and other events. Besides, the DG thanked every member of the BGB for successfully performing their duties in various local and national elections, including the 12th national parliamentary election.
He emphasised the BGB's operational, administrative, training, intelligence activities, mutual communication and sports and physical excellence, and urged them to carry out any responsibility assigned to the BGB with honesty and truthfulness, loyalty, devotion and discipline, including border protection, drug prevention, and smuggling. Apart from this, he also gave instructions on upholding religious and family values by keeping themselves away from any kind of immoral activity.
At the end of the Darbar, a total of 28 individual awards were presented to the BGB personnel members for outstanding achievements in operational activities, anti-smuggling and drug seizure. The four best battalions were given trophies as well. After that, 53 people were awarded operational and administrative certificates from the DG.
Later, BGB DG felicitated, handed over gifts and grants to Freedom Fighters and their families. He remembered the sacrifice and bravery of 817 brave martyrs of the then EPR during the great Liberation War of Bangladesh with deep respect.
The BGB DG said: “Freedom fighters are the sun children of Bangladesh. We got an independent, sovereign Bangladesh in return for their great sacrifice. The nation will always remember their sacrifice with respect. He also said that the current government has increased all the facilities for the rehabilitation and welfare of the Freedom Fighters many times over. Similarly, BGB is always working for the brave Freedom Fighters and their successors.”
He said that the families of martyred Freedom Fighters of BGB will be given a financial grant of Tk2000 per month from the BGB Welfare Trust, rations will be given at a subsidized price to families of BGB, and priority will be given to children and grandchildren of Freedom Fighters for jobs at the BGB. The DG assured to extend full cooperation to the brave Freedom Fighters and their families in the future as well.
Later, BGB Director General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui participated in a banquet organized on the occasion with Freedom Fighters and their families.