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PM-AFD-RECEPTION-2 LAST DHAKA
Sheikh Hasina, also in-charge of the Defence Ministry, said the role of the armed forces in assisting the forcefully displaced people of Myanmar has also been lauded highly at home and abroad.
“The armed forces alongside with the local administration, the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) and other law enforcement agencies have been working to ensure better living of 11 lakh forcibly displaced Rohingyas,” she said.
Wishing constant success of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the premier said her government has taken substantial plans to make it a competent force of the twenty first century.
The prime minister said her government is continuing efforts for training of the members of the army, navy and air force and acquisition of modern technologies and armories aimed at building a strong defense force.
“We have fixed our target to transform the armed forces into a modern and time-befitting force in the Forces Goal-2030 formulated in line with the Defence Policy-1974 by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman” she said.
The premier said they are working in phases to reconstruct and modernise the three forces in accordance with the forces’ goal.
Spelling out the initiatives to make each of the force time-befitting, she said, “We would have to go for modernization of the forces to make those capable to cope with the time as the trend of using technology is increasing.”
The premier said after assuming office in 1996, her government has been implementing pragmatic steps for strengthening the defense system and development and expansion of the armed forces with purchasing the ultra modern fighter plane MIG-29 for air force and other modern equipment for the three forces.
She went on saying that her government has established three full fledged infantry divisions at Sylhet, Ramu and Patuakhali for Bangladesh army.
The premier said that the government is trying its best to build warships whereas some petro crafts have already been manufactured.
In this context she said her government has already established medical college, dental college, engineering institute, technical and training institute for the welfare of the armed forces.
Pointing out her family bond with the armed forces, the Prime Minister said her brother Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal were freedom fighters, who had joined the Bangladesh Army after the War of Liberation.
Her brother Sheikh Jamal was a commissioned officer in Bangladesh Army and her youngest brother Sheikh Russell wanted to be an army officer as he became fascinated with the discipline of the force.
But, bullets of the killers pierced his chest when he was only ten years old, she lamented.
The Prime Minister said Bangabandhu had fought for liberating the country with the aim of building a nation free from poverty and hunger, embodying the spirit of the Liberation War.
She said her government wants to build a prosperous Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.
BSS/AHJ/KU/1907 HRS