Self confidence to take the nation forward

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said self-confidence will take the nation forward though Bangladesh has resource constraints.

"If we have the self-confidence, the people of Bangladesh will move towards the path of progress with self-dignity," she said.

The prime minister said this in her opening speech at the induction ceremony of YAK-130 Trainer Aircraft and Maritime Search and Rescue Hel Augusta AW-139 in Bangladesh Air Force at Air Base Bangabandhu in Dhaka Cantonment.

She said the people of Bangladesh attained their victory through the Liberation War under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"We're the nation of victors...no one could ever defeat us... all of our people have to remember this all the time," Sheikh Hasina said, adding, "We'll keep our heads high on the global stage and for that we need to build ourselves in that way."

She mentioned that the government wants to see Bangladesh and its people take their due places in the world arena with dignity.

Hasina reiterated her resolve to make Bangladesh Air Force technically sound, strong and capable in line with its emerging prosperity through further modernisation by the year 2021.

"The present government had never been miser when it came to providing assistance in the past, will never do in the future too although we have resource constraints," she added.

She also mentioned that the country's economy has got the due momentum and the country is moving on fast. "Bangladesh is now treated as a role model of development in the world."

Hasina said Bangladesh would take its place as the most peaceful nation in the world and an enriched and develop nation in south Asia.

The prime minister expressed her hope that the just-inducted YAK 130 advanced jet trainer will play a significant role in providing higher training to the country's pilots advancing the Air Force keeping pace with the developed nations. She said controlled by the state of the art digital Fly-by-Wire system, the YAK-130 plane will able to provide vital assistance to the army and navy and protect the country's skies and attack the enemy if necessary during war.

Guided by the high tech Glass Cockpit and Auto Flight Control System, the AW 139 maritime search and rescue helicopter can conduct search and rescue operations in vast coastal and maritime areas during natural disasters or any other emergencies.

The prime minister mentioned that as it is very much important to ensure a full-time surveillance over Bangladesh's skies over the Exclusive Economic Zone, the government has established an Air Defence Radar in Cox's Bazar.

She also announced that five new MI 171 SH helicopters and 12 PT-6 training jets will be added to the fleet of the air force soon.

On her arrival, air chief Air Marshal Abu Asrer and Commander of Bangabandhu Air Base Air Commodore M Obaidur Rahman received the prime minister.

On the occasion an attractive parade was arranged. The prime minister inspected the parade and took salute.

She also handed over the induction order of AW-139 to its officer commanding Wing Commander M Abbas Ali and induction order of YAK-130 to its officer commanding Wing Commander Hasan Ashrafuzzaman.

After the parade, the prime minister watched a display by Bangladesh Air Force.

The YAK-130, a 4th plus generation combat trainer produced in Russia, is equipped with an integrated navigation system, attack system and Digital Fly-by-Wire flight control systems.

The Italian Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter features a leading edge technology including fully integrated avionics system and 4 axis digital auto flight control system.

The helicopter is equipped with a high definition forward looking infrared system, Direction Finder, Night Vision Goggles, Search Light, Hoist Kit, Float Kit and Augmented Hover Mode for sea search and rescue operations.

Cabinet members, PM's advisers, the chiefs of the three services, principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, defence secretary, foreign diplomats and senior military and civil officials were present.