Prime Minister Sehikh Hasina has asked army to entrust skilled, efficient and patriotic officers with its higher commands for continued constitutional democracy and pace of development.
The Prime Minister made the call while addressing the opening of Army Headquarters Selection Board-2018 in Dhaka on Sunday, reports BSS.
“A disciplined and strong army plays a very helpful role in establishing and integrating democracy of a country,” the premier told the function at Dhaka Cantonment in Dhaka.
She added: “Those who are well-educated, skilled, alert, intelligent, and above all have commitment to democracy should be to be given the leadership.”
Sheikh Hasina said the military must make significant contribution to build a modern, developed and prosperous Bangladesh and “so you have to select eligible officers for promotion with honesty, fairness and justice”.
“The country may prosper only if the democratic and constitutional process continues,” the Prime Minister told the function when army chief General Aziz Ahmed gave the welcome speech.
PM’s principal secretary Md. Nozibur Rahman, Defense Secretary Akhter Hosssain Bhuiyan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Md. Mahfuzur Rahman and officers with ranks of Lieutenant General and Major General were present.
The Prime Minister said she was glad that the military adopted a modern approach for comparative evaluation of various aspects of professional skills for promotion of its officers.
She expected the selection board to recommend suitable officers for promotion simultaneously taking into consideration their patriotism and belief in the spirit of the Liberation War.
The Prime Minister said the senior officers’ promotion should be based on good record of successes in leading units and performing various military activities alongside their professional skills, discipline and honesty.
“Education, attitude, socialisation and character of officers should also be examined,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
began the gigantic task of rebuilding war-ravaged nation after the independence when he formulated a Defence Policy in 1974 to build an advanced, professional and trained army.
“He established various organizations including Bangladesh Military Academy, Combined Arms School and Training Centre for each Corp,” the premier said.
Following that policy, she said, her government was making continued efforts for development and modernisation of the army by formulating “Armed Forces Goal-2030”.
“We don’t want war, but we must have the capacity to face any situation,” the premier said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government took various development, expansion and
welfare measures to boost up soldiers and officers spirit.
She said Bangladesh’s patriotic army achieved universal confidence and acceptance for concentration, competence and various public service activities adding that they particularly set a unique example by helping and supporting the victims of natural disasters and accidents.
“The army also showed expertise in building roads and infrastructures, creating marine drive roads and creating voter lists and machine readable passports, even in remote hills in the country,” she said.
The premier praised the army role in the Padma Bridge project and as a supervisor consultant for Padma Bridge Rail Project.
The Prime Minister said the glorious role of army in UN peacekeeping missions brightened the image of the country.
The prime minister said the foremost goal of her government is to ensure overall welfare of the people. As a result of her government’s efforts, Bangladesh is moving forward and emerged as a role model of development.
She said people of the country were now enjoying the benefits of development while 90 percent development works of the country was done with own resources.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh would go ahead.
“In the golden jubilee of independence, we will make Bangladesh a middle income and prosperous country before 2041,” she said.