PM asks armed forces to work with people
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina taking salute at the spectacular President's Parade of 63rd BMA Long Course at Bangladesh Military Academy, Bhatiari in Chittagong yesterday. Photo : ISPR
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the members of the armed forces to work together with the people for the welfare of the country, apart from their prime duty of safeguarding independence and sovereignty. Addressing the President's Parade of the 63rd BMA Long Course at the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) here in the afternoon, she also called upon the newly commissioned officers to devote themselves to the task of serving the country and the nation being imbued with patriotism. “From today, the sacred duty of safeguarding the country's independence and sovereignty is being reposed on you. You've to remain prepared to perform this onerous duty even by shedding the last drop of your blood,” said Hasina. She said Bangladesh has earned name and fame as a potential and peaceful country in the world. Bangladesh has been contributing immensely to the world peace by deploying the highest number of peacekeepers to the UN Peacekeeping Missions. “Already we've been able to establish our firm position in various international and regional forums. From now on, you've to go ahead upholding the dignity of this proud position,” she told the members of the armed forces. The prime minister reminded the members of the armed forces members that they are an inseparable part of the people. “You are equal partners of the people's happiness and misery,” she said. She hailed the Army's role in successfully implementing the 1997 peace accord signed during the previous tenure of Awami League to establish peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. “Bangladesh Army has always remained beside the people during all natural disasters and national crises,” she said. Hasina also noted that the Bangladesh Army has been assisting the civil administration whenever necessary. Bangladesh Army's success in preparing national identity cards and flawless voter list with photographs within a short span of time has earned wide acclamation at home and abroad, she said. The PM said now the Army is performing the task of preparing Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) and Machine Readable Visas (MRVs) with highest level of efficiency. Recently, the government has engaged the Bangladesh Army to ensure proper management of the Chittagong seaport, she said. She expressed her happiness that the Constitution, along with the background of the emergence of independent Bangladesh, has been included in the curriculum of the Bangladesh Military Academy with the objective of building an efficient, patriotic army inspired with the spirit of the Liberation War. Besides, the inspirational speech of the Father of the Nation delivered on January 11 in 1975 has also been included in the Leadership and Management module of cadets, she said. Describing herself as a member of the Armed Forces family, Hasina said her brother Captain Shaheed Sheikh Kamal took part in the War of Liberation as a regular member of the Army. “My other brother, Shaheed Sheikh Jamal joined the Army after being commissioned from the Royal Academy at Sandhurst. My youngest brother, martyred Sheikh Russel used to dream to join the Army.” She said her government has taken many initiatives to build a digital Bangladesh. She mentioned that to keep pace with the government initiative, Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) has included information and communication technology (ICT) as a subject in its curriculum. The library and language lab of the BMA have been already been digitised. The PM thanked the authorities concerned for designing new curriculum for the BMA upholding the dignity of all religions. Hasina recalled that she laid the foundation of the Bangabandhu Complex of the Bangladesh Military Academy last year as part of the modernisation process of the armed forces. The 10-storey complex will have all types of modern facilities for the cadets' indoor training, she said. She informed that the construction of the complex is expected to be completed by June 2013. The PM told the young cadets that at the end of their training, each of them is going to be a highly skilled army officer. “You are entrusted with the paramount duty of leading the Bangladesh Army. You have to attain qualities of leadership and techniques of leading to perform such an important duty,” she said. “I firmly believe that the young army officers who have been trained under the new curriculum of Bangladesh Military Academy will be able to give proper leadership to the Bangladesh Army,” she added. A total of 122 cadets - 116 male and six female - passed the 63rd Long Course. Prime Minister took salute of the parade and distributed prizes among the cadets who demonstrated excellent performance during their course. Adjutant of the BMA Maj Shahriar Enam Reza commanded the spectacular parade. Battalion Senior Uder Officer Md Alamin was awarded the coveted Sword of Honor as the best all round cadet. Company Senior Under Officer SM Yasin Noor Siddiqui received the chief of army staff (CAS) gold medal for his outstanding performance in military subjects. Rouf Company received the BMA Color of the Winter Term on the basis of different inter company competition. The cadets formally took oath and were adorned with the rank badges by their parents and guardians. The prime minister witnessed the joyful scene and had some chit-chat with the parents and guardians. Earlier, on her arrival at the BMA Parade Ground, the prime minister was received by Chief of Army Staff Gen M Abdul Mubeen, local area commander of Bangladesh Army and GOC 24th Infantry Division Maj Gen Mohammad Ashab Uddin, Army Training and Doctrine Commander Maj Gen Anowar Hossain and Commandant of the Academy Brig Gen M Anisuzzaman Bhuiyan. Later, the prime minister took part in the photo-session with the young officers and cut the cake to mark the occasion of passing-out parade.
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