Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at a function of awarding the National Standard to Bangladesh Air Force Base Zahurul Haque in Chittagong on Saturday. PMO photo CHITTAGONG: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday underscored the need for improved training for members of the Air Force for attaining professional excellence saying they will have to develop themselves as efficient and ideal Air Force personnel, reports UNB. "Attaining professional efficiency is very important for members of the Air Force, as it increases self-confidence and helps earn fame and dignity for the organisation as well," she said at a function of awarding the National Standard to Bangladesh Air Force Base Zahurul Haque. Alongside this, Sheikh Hasina said, they will have to keep in mind the history and the supreme sacrifices of lakhs of people for the country’s independence. Terming the country’s Air Force as a traditional one, the Prime Minister said it has a glorious history of sacrifices during the country’s great Liberation War and its members with only one Alouette helicopter, One DC-3 and one Auter Biman fought with unprecedented efficiency against the occupation forces. The nation will ever remember the courageous contributions of the Air Force officials, including those who performed their responsibility as sector commanders, she said. Recalling the great contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in developing the Air Force, Hasina said Bangabandhu collected supersonic MIG-21 and took massive initiatives to modernise it. Following the footprint of Bangabandhu, the Prime Minister said, the government has been working to make the Air Force a time-befitting and smart one in the light of ‘Forces Goal 2030’. She said the government implemented massive programmes for the development of Air Force after assuming office in 1996 and collected the Fourth Generation MiG-29 Fighter Planes, large capacity C-130 Cargo Planes and high powered Air Protecting RADAR system. During its 2009-2013 tenure, 16 fighter planes from China and 3 Mi-171 helicopters from Russia were purchased while a new Air Forve Base was set up at Cox’s Bazar with surface to air missile system there for the first time, she said. Besides, Bangabandhu Aeronautical Center has been established at Bangabandhu Airbase and two modern Maritime Research and Rescue Helicopter AW-139 will soon be added to the Air Force which will be conducted from this base, the Prime Minister said. Hasina said the use of ICTs has been ensured in every tire of the Air Force and an IT Department has been set up to train up all members of the Air Force in Computer based technologies. New units under the Air Force are being set up increasing its manpower while step has been taken to set up Bangabandhu Complex at the Air Force Academy at Jessore to provide improved training and research facilities for the force, she said. Referring to the maritime disputes with India and Myanmar, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh’s sovereign rights have been established in the huge maritime area in the Bay of Bengal, opening up huge opportunities to extract sea resources. In this connection, she mentioned the assistance provided by the Air Force in determining the maritime boundary by flying for 29 hours with judges of International Tribunals as well as lawyers of Bangladesh and India. She expressed her belief that the Air Force will be able to contribute more to the development of the country and the nation through its modernisation. The Prime Minister hoped that the patriotic armed forces, including the Air Force, imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation would uphold Bangladesh’s “red and green coloured” National Flag before the world. During the national standard award ceremony, Hasina witnessed the parade at the parade ground of Air Base Zahurul Haque. The parade was commanded by group captain Syed Sayeedur Rahman. During the parade, the Prime Minister was given 'National Salute' while a helicopter flew past with the national flag. On the occasion, the Prime Minister signed a visitors' book and attended a photography session with the selected senior officers of Armed Forces and Airmen. Earlier, on her arrival at the parade ground, she was received by chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Muhammad Enamul Bari and Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Base Zahurul Haque Air Commodore Md Humayun Kabir.
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