Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said today's armed forces are much developed, competent and intelligent as the government made tremendous infrastructure development.
She said this while addressing as the chief guest the graduation ceremony of the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) 2017-18 Course at Sheikh Hasina Complex at DSCSC at Mirpur Cantonment in the capital on Wednesday morning.
"In the last 9 years, we have increased the capabilities of the armed forces as well as made splendid infrastructure development ... combined with modern training and equipment, today's armed forces are much more developed, efficient and intelligent," the premier said.
DSCSC Commandant Major General AKM Abdullahil Baquee delivered the welcome address at the function.
Ministers, advisers to the prime minister, parliament members, chiefs of the three armed services, vice-chancellors of different universities, diplomats and high civil and military officials were present at the function.
The premier once again described the armed forces as a symbol of the country's independence and sovereignty, saying that they have been helping civil administration in development activities and maintaining law and order.
"Alongside the noble responsibility of protecting sovereignty, the members of the patriotic armed forces have been assisting civil administration for country's development activities, construction of infrastructures, elimination of militancy-terrorism, maintaining law and order and tackling natural disasters," she said.
Not only inside the country, she said, the members of Armed Forces have also earned name and fame in foreign lands by their honesty, dedication and professional acumen.
The prime minister said the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces are contributing significantly to peacekeeping, democracy, social development, healthcare and education in various countries under the emblem of UN mission.
"Their success has brightened the image of Bangladesh," she said.
She said over one million Myanmar people took shelter in Bangladesh and the members of the armed forces are playing an important role in proving assistance to them.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh wants peace, not war and the government is running the state with the policy "friendship to all, malice to none". "I can now say that all of the countries have harmonious and friendly relations with Bangladesh," she said.
Spelling out her government's initiatives for the development and modernisation of the armed forces, Sheikh Hasina said in pursuance of the farsighted defence policy of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the government has formulated Forces Goals-2030.
She said Bangabandhu in his 1966's Six-Point Charter had raised a demand for establishing the Naval Headquarters in East Bengal.
After going through international legal procedures, she said, Bangladesh became victorious in obtaining its rights over vast maritime boundaries.
"Potential Blue Economic door was unleashed in front of us by this endeavor and we made the navy as a three-dimensional force for utilizing this opportunity," she said.
The premier said it is a matter of great regret that after 46 years of independence Bangladesh Navy didn't have a submarine but "recently we have added sophisticated submarines, which have amplified our capabilities hugely."
About the development of the air force, she said F-7 BG fighter aircraft, helicopter and sophisticated sky defense missiles have been inducted into it, while new units have been added and manpower has been increased, according to BSS.
"Bangabandhu Aeronautical Center has been approved, while Bangabandhu and Cox's Bazar Air Bases have been emerged as a full-fledged base," she said.
As part of the modernization of the army, she said, establishment of new divisions, brigades, units and battalions along with important institutions like NDC, BIPSOT, AFMC, MIST and NCOs has been accomplished.
Sheikh Hasina said a large number of armoured personnel carrier (APC), battle tank, armoured recovery vehicle, helicopters and other necessary weapons and equipment have beenpurchased to increase the operational capacity of the army.
