Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said if her party, the Awami League, is re-elected, Bangladesh's development cooperation with all the countries will continue.
Bangladesh has occupied a strong and prestigious place in the international arena due to the success of the Awami League’s foreign policy, following Bangabandhu’s principle of friendship to all, malice towards none, Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday while announcing the party’s manifesto for the 12th general election.
The Awami League president said cooperation with neighbouring countries will continue in various areas, including cross-border communication, transit, energy partnership and equitable water-sharing.
She said Bangladesh is firmly determined to prevent the presence of militants, international terrorists and separatist groups on its territory.
The Awami League government will play an important role in forming the South Asia Task Force to combat terrorism and militancy and eliminate them from the entire region, Sheikh Hasina said.
“We believe in peace, not war,” she said, adding that to enhance the defence capability of the armed forces to protect the security, sovereignty and integrity of the country, the formulation and implementation of Forces Goal 2030 are underway in light of the Defense Policy, 1974, formulated by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She said the efficiency and discipline of the armed forces will continue to improve, and management will continue to develop in light of Forces Goal 2030.
Sheikh Hasina said necessary measures will continue to be taken to increase the professional skills of the officers and soldiers of the armed forces and their job opportunities according to the country's capability.
“To ensure the security of the country and the people, capacity building of the defence system will continue. New welfare-oriented schemes and programs will be taken up for all ranks of the armed forces,” the prime minister added.
