BGB Day-2020 tomorrow

545

DHAKA, Dec 19, 2020 (BSS) – The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day-2020 will be celebrated tomorrow through various programmes at its Pilkhana headquarters and all battalions across the country.

Marking the day, BGB Director General (DG) Major General Md Shafeenul Islam will hoist of BGB’s regimental flags atop BGB headquarters formally at 9am. He will also pay homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the “Simanto Gourab” at the BGB headquarters here at 9.15am.

Later, a special Darbar will be held at 10am while the BGB men will be connected to the Darbar through virtual media from across the country as the global pandemic coronavirus doesn’t allow physical presence at any public gathering.

After the Darabar, badges for different honorary promotions and awards in different categories will be conferred on the BGB personnel for their outstanding performance.

The day’s programmes also include cutting cakes, special dinner and doa and milad mahfil at all mosques in the Pilkhana area.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages greeting the BGB members on the occasion of the BGB Day-2020.

They wished a success of the day’s all programmes.

In his message, President Hamid said: “Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), which is glorified for heroism and heritage – the ‘ever vigilant sentinels of the border’, has a 225-year-long rich history. It has an unforgettable contribution to our great Liberation War”.

The Pakistani occupation forces attacked the then EPR (now BGB) headquarters at Pilkhana in the city on the black night of March 25 in 1971, he said, adding that (as) the message of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s declaration of independence was delivered wirelessly to the remote areas of the country from the EPR headquarters.

As many as 817 members, including Birshreshtha Noor Mohammad Sheikh and Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf, of the force set an unique example of patriotism by sacrificing their lives in the Liberation War, Hamid said, adding that the paramilitary force won ‘Swadhinata Padak’ for its role in the Liberation War.

The President said the BGB members are discharging their duties relentlessly for protecting the country`s bordering areas by preventing smuggling, woman and child trafficking and drug peddling.

They are also playing laudable role in conducting rescue operation and ensuring security for the people and their properties during any disaster, he added.

Noting the government initiatives taken to make the paramilitary force as a modern boarder guarding force, Hamid said, “I believe that all the steps taken by the government will play a positive role in the progress and prosperity of the BGB”.

The President hoped that the BGB members being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War and patriotism would discharge their respective duties with utmost honesty, sincerity and professionalism to uphold country’s interest.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had started the work for modernizing the border guarding force (now BGB) after reorganizing it following the country’s independence in 1971.

Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, she said, the Awami League government has taken all necessary measures to make the BGB a time befitting and modern force since 2009.

The premier said, “The Border Guard Bangladesh Act-2010 has been enacted to this end. A plan in line with the ‘Border Guard Bangladesh Vision-2041’ has been taken for making the BGB as a world standard moden three-dimensional force to face the challenges of the 21st century”.

The BGB has already created five regions, four new sectors, five regional intelligence bureaus, 15 battalions, 140 BOP and 34 BSP, Sheikh Hasina said.

Highlighting different development works of the border security force, the Prime Minister said in the last 12 years, more than 30,000 personnel were recruited in the force while process for recruiting about 15,000 manpower is underway.

“Our government has ensured the women empowerment in the BGB by recruiting the first women soldiers in the paramilitary forces,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that every member of the BGB being imbued with the spirit of the Great Liberation War will discharge their responsibilities with honesty, devotion and discipline to protect the independence and sovereignty of the country.