Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reviews the smartly-turned-out parade riding on an open jeep and takes salute at the impressive march past at the President’s Parade of 71 BMA Long Course and 42 BMA Special Course at Bangladesh Military Academy Parade Ground in Bhatiari, Chittagong, on Wednesday. PMO Photo CHITTAGONG: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday called upon the newly-commissioned officers of Bangladesh Army to remain always alert and ready for safeguarding the country’s hard-earned independence and sovereignty, reports BSS. “A sacred responsibility for protecting great independence and sovereignty of the motherland is being reposed on you from today. So you will have to always remain vigil and ready for discharging this duty,” she added. Sheikh Hasina also hoped that protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty with the last drop of blood would be the first and main motto in the life of the newly-commissioned officers. “You will have to serve the country and people without interest and don’t move back from this task. Take my doa and good wishes,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing the President’s Parade of 71 BMA Long Course and 42 BMA Special Course at Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) Parade Ground in Bhatiari here. Earlier, the Prime Minister reviewed the smartly turned out parade riding on an open jeep and took salute at the impressive march past. She also distributed the awards to the outstanding cadets. Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan and BMA Commandant Md Jahangir Kabir Talukder accompanied the Prime Minister. Ministers, advisers, parliament members, diplomats and high civil and military officials were present. Earlier, on her arrival at the BMA Parade Ground, the Prime Minister was received by Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Army Training and Doctrine Command Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, GOC, 24 Infantry Division and Area Commander, Chittagong Area, Major General Sabbir Ahmed and BMA Commandant Major General Md Jahangir Kabir Talukder. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Army has been able to earn praises of all quarters for its efficiency and professionalism in discharging responsibilities reposed on them at home and abroad. “Retaining this reputation, the army will have to take themselves towards gradual development. The people of any part of the world would know Bangladesh Army as a symbol of peace and prosperity—it is my expectation,” she said. The Prime Minister said that the officers of Bangladesh Army are an integral part of the people of the country. “You all are an equal partner of weal and woes and laughing and crying of the mass people,” she said. Sheikh Hasina noted that Bangladesh Army always stood beside the distressed people during all natural disasters and bad time of the country. Besides, she said, this force have demonstrated outstanding efficiency and performance in establishing peace in the remote Chittagong Hill Tracts, construction of road, flyovers and infrastructure, removing water logging and traffic jam, implementation of Hatirjheel Project and preparing voter list and machine readable passports. The Prime Minister said Bangladesh Armed Forces were born through a bloody War of Liberation. “And Bangladesh Army which is rejuvenated with the spirit of great War of Liberation is a pride of all,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has now been established as a promising and peaceful country on the world stage. “Our country has been making important contribution to maintain world peace by sending highest troops in the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions,” she said. Spelling out her government’s various initiatives for modernising the armed forces and making it time-befitting, Sheikh Hasina said her government during 1996-2001 tenure established the National Defence College, Military Institute of Science and Technology, Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training, NCO’s Academy, Bangladesh Infantry Regimental Centre and Trust Bank. The Prime Minister said Forces Goal-2030 has been crafted in the light of the Defence Policy 1974 framed by Bangabandhu. “As part of implementing the goal, we have already established an infantry division in Sylhet,” she said. Besides, she said, six new units including Area Headquarters have been set up, while an approval has been given to establish a new infantry division in Ramu. “A division is being set up in the country’s southern region and 99 Composite Brigade has been established for security and surveillance of the Padma Bridge,” she said. Not only establishment of new installations, she said, most modern equipment have been procured for further modernisation of Bangladesh Army and making it time-befitting and all round. “Our government has inked an one billion US Dollar deal with Russia for purchasing arms which will raise the capability of the armed forces to a great extent and reinvigorate the mental strength of the troops deployed in the UN peacekeeping missions,” she said. Besides, Sheikh Hasina said, the work on buying significant quantity of military equipment from China, Serbia and other countries is under process. “We have inducted many modern arms and ammunition including new tanks, APCs and multi-barrel rocket launchers for increasing capability of the army,” she added. Highlighting her government’s steps for turning Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) into a most modern and international standard academy, the Prime Minister said the government has constructed Bangabandhu Complex in the academy. “There are all types of modern facilities for indoor training for the cadets, which have brought dynamism in the training and administrative activities of the BMA,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said a four-year honours course and engineering degree course on different subjects are going to be introduced and the duration of receiving commission by the cadets is being increased to three years from two years. “I hope this initiative would play an epoch-making role in establishing a well- trained and modern army,” she said. The Prime Minister said necessary steps have been undertaken for development of Bangladesh Navy and Air Force like Bangladesh Army. Illustrating her government’s success in different fields like agriculture, education, communication, infrastructure development, women empowerment, rural development and ICT, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is advancing in every field and the country is now a role model of development. “I hope Bangladesh would be turned into a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041,” she said. Congratulating the newly-commissioned officers of Bangladesh Army, the Prime Minister wished continued development of Bangladesh Army and BMA. “Today is a very joyful and important day in your life as you are going to enter into the greater working life as a proud officer of Bangladesh Army,” she said. Through today’s spectacular President’s Parade, a total of 159 cadets including 14 female cadets from the 71 BMA Long Course and 17 cadets including four female cadets from the 42 BMA Special Course got commission to Bangladesh Army. Battalion Senior Under Officer Md Khaled Hossain was adjudged as the best all round cadet and awarded the coveted “Sword of Honour”, while Junior Under Officer SM Ziaul Islam received the “Chief of Army Staff’s Gold Medal” for his outstanding performance in military subjects. Meanwhile, “Rouf Company” received the “BMA Colour” for the Winter Term on the basis of different inter-company competitions. Later, the cadets formally took oath and were adorned with the rank badges by their respective parents and guardians.
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