KHULNA, Oct 2, 2019 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid today asked naval
force to work more efficiently to ensure marine sovereignty and security for
the national interest.
“Perform the task bestowed upon you safely and successfully being imbued
with the spirit of liberation war and using jetty, warships and military
weapons,” he said.
The head of the state was addressing a function at the parade ground of the
‘Titumir Naval Base Jetty at Khalishpur here on the occasion of Awarding
National Standard to BNS Titumir Base.
He urged the navy personnel to ensure good results of blue economy
simultaneously performing the duties with efficiency.
The President hoped that the navy members of the next generation, being
imbued with the spirit of patriotism, would play a very significant role in
protecting independence and sovereignty of the country.
The young generation would contribute to building a ‘Sonar Bangla’
envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he
added.
Lauding the difficult tasks of navy in the sea, he said “You (Navy
personnel) have set an example by doing hard labour and duty with sincerity
and efficiency in the turbulent sea which is navy members’ main workplace”.
President Hamid, also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, too
called the navy personnel to continue their all-out efforts to uphold
country’s image across the world.
He said Bangladesh has a 710-kilometre coastal area and about three crore
people of this area are directly or indirectly dependent on marine resources
for their livelihood.
“Besides, over 90 percent of trade with foreign countries is conducted on
sea routes,” Hamid said.
The President mentioned that the incumbent government meantime purchased
two more maritime petrol aircrafts to enhance petrol and vigilance in sea
water.
“Meanwhile, the construction work for the proposed largest naval base named
after Sher-e-Bangla with the aviation facilities in Patuakhali is on progress
aiming to ensure infrastructural development,” he pointed out.
The President said utmost priority is being given to impart training and
build skilled manpower by this government.
At the outset of his speech, he paid a rich tribute to Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and freedom fighters, specially the navy
members including Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin who made their supreme sacrifices
during the Liberation War in 1971.
During the ceremony, the President handed over the national standard
certificate of BNS Titumir Base to Bangladesh Navy.
BNS Titumir is a naval base of the Bangladeshi Navy, founded after the
liberation war of 1971. It is named after Syed Meer Nisar Ali Titumir, a
martyr in the then anti-British movement in 1831.
Titumir mainly conducts professional trainings for the supply branch
officers and sailors at different level of their career.
About 2500 personnel serve in Titumir, which is one of the largest bases in
the Bangladesh Navy.
Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Deputy
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Chief of
Naval Staff Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, MP,
Akhtaruzzaman Babu, MP and secretaries concerned to the president, senior
military and civil officials were, among others, present on the occasion.