Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday directed the armed forces to give importance to faith in Liberation War spirit, professional skills, leadership quality, standard of discipline, honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty while giving promotions to their officers.
She said this during the virtual inauguration ceremony of “Navy and Air Selection Board-2022” organized at the headquarters of Navy and Air Force.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the event through a video conference from her official residence Ganobhaban, according to an ISPR press release.
At the Navy Selection Board-2022, the official process for the promotion of officers from Captain to Commodore, Commander to Captain, and Lieutenant Commander to Commander began.
On the other hand, at the Air Selection Board-2022, a decision will be taken regarding the promotion of eligible candidates for the posts of air commodore, group captain, and wing commander.
The boards, consisting of the highest policy-making level officers, will select qualified and efficient officers for the future senior leadership of Navy and Air subject to the approval of the government.
The premier said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the initiative to build modern, trained and strong armed forces to protect the sovereignty of his motherland.
She added that the present government, following his footsteps, is implementing short-term, medium-term and long-term plans to build a modern military force with technological knowledge.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “A significant number of warships, submarines, helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft and Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) have been introduced to improve the standard of Navy.”
Along with the newly commissioned warships, the construction of new bases is going on, she added.
In her speech, the prime minister lauded the female officers of Navy and Air Force for their performance.
The prime minister noted that like every sector of the country, Bangladesh Navy and Air Force are playing an important role in ensuring the empowerment of women. Today, the women sailors and airmen are serving their duties with reputation and professionalism at home and abroad, she added.
She said the women peacekeepers of the Navy and Air Force are engaged in important duties in the United Nations mission and they have upheld the image of Bangladesh in the world.
Besides, during the natural calamities, especially the recent floods in the north-eastern part of the country, the members of the Navy and Air Force have worked hand-in-hand with the local administration and other law enforcement agencies to serve humanity, said the premier.
Besides, the prime minister said they have built the Padma Bridge with own funding, which will contribute significantly to the overall socio-economic development of the country, including the southern region.
Besides, Bangabandhu Tunnel, Metro Rail, LNG Terminal, Deep Sea Port, Matarbari Power Plant, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, construction of third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and the conversion of existing highways to expressway to connect the divisional cities with Dhaka are being implemented, she continued.
Due to the steps taken by her government, Bangladesh stands tall in the world today, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said they are implementing Deltaplan-2100 to make development sustainable, while Bangladesh became a developing nation as the outcome of the proper implementation of Vision-2021.
At present, the government is implementing the 8th Five-Year Plan by coordinating SDG-2030 with Vision 2041, she added.
Earlier, Chief of Naval Staff of Bangladesh Navy Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan thanked the prime minister for her presence in the ceremony.
