It is heartening to see Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speak of the role of the military of Bangladesh and reiterate its position to first be about peace above all else, but nevertheless be ready for any potential external threats.
As a nation, we have been guided by Bangabandhu's principle of “friendship to all and malice to none” which has been our motto across any and all diplomatic relationships and exchanges. It is imperative that moving forward, with Bangladesh's role as an economy becoming more and more prominent, we do not veer away from a policy that has only brought us good.
Having said that, as nations prosper and climb the rungs of the economic ladder, a strong military also becomes a necessity, and it is good to see that while we intend to remain a nation that puts peace first, we remain cognizant of the military's role should any potential conflicts arise.
To that end, investing intelligently in the bolstering of our armed forces is indeed the correct response, which also reassures the citizens of Bangladesh that we will not simply lie down should we be faced with unexpected threats.
It is important to remember that a bloody Liberation War gave birth to this nation we call ours today, but is equally important to remember the less-than-ideal past of the armed forces over the more than five decades since we became an independent nation.
As such, while we continue to modernize our armed forces, it is equally important to instill patriotism within each and every member, so that together, we can continue to enjoy peace as we fulfil all of our goals and ambitions.