ZCZC
BSS-32
PM-DEFENCE-2-DHAKA
Recalling the outstanding role of the Father of the Nation in the development of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Hasina said the nation always remembers with profound respect the great sacrifices and heroism of the Armed Forces members in the War of Liberation in 1971.
“Soon after independence, the Father of the Nation realized the need for well-developed and professional armed forces. Subsequently the armed forces, which came into being on a small scale through the Great War of Liberation, have now become a big institution,” she observed.
The prime minister said, Bangabandhu in the war-torn country, established Bangladesh Military Academy, Combined Arms School and a separate training center for each corps of the army in 1972 with his government’s limited resources.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu simultaneously inaugurated three bases of Bangladesh Navy in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna, while procured warships for the force from India and Yugoslavia.
In 1973, Bangabandhu added sophisticated equipment to the Air Force, including supersonic MiG-21 fighter jets, helicopters and transport aircraft and air defense radar, she said.
Referring to the golden jubilee of the country’s independence, Sheikh Hasina said the professionalism and efficiency of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, which now stood on the solid foundation based on the National Defense Policy crafted by the Father of the Nation, have spread across the globe.
The prime minister mentioned the armed forces members’ very strong role in tackling ongoing Covid-19 and said they are performing their duties with utmost devotion and self-sacrifice during any crisis of the country.
The armed force members, she said, as front-line fighters are combating the coronavirus pandemic and conducting awareness campaign as well as implemented ‘lock-down operations’ and helped ensuring quarantine for the infected people and supervision of the returnees from abroad.
Sheikh Hasina said that the various activities of the Bangladesh Army to help the needy and helpless people during the coronavirus period have also got widespread appreciation beyond the territory too.
Highlighting the activities of the Bangladesh Navy to deal with the coronavirus situation, she said they are working to maintain social distancing, ensure compulsory home quarantine and provide humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable families.
To fight the coronavirus situation in the Maldives, the premier said, medical supplies provided by the Bangladesh government were sent there by the naval ships, while the UN-deployed Bangladesh Navy ship ‘Bijoy’ distributed food and relief items to Bangladeshi families living in Beirut, Lebanon.
About the role of Bangladesh Air Force in providing humanitarian assistance, the prime minister said Air Force helicopters shifted a significant number of Corona victims including public representatives, doctors, teachers and eminent personalities, to Dhaka from country’s remote areas for their better treatment.
“A significant number of armed forces members died of the Covid-19 and were infected with the fatal disease while providing humanitarian support to the corona victims,” she said, expressing her profound sympathy to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery of the corona victims.
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