Cut army officer-soldier gap
Asks prime minister
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at the Forces Formation Commanders' conference at the Army Headquarters yesterday. Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the officers of Bangladesh Army to take all necessary measures to reduce the existing gap in their relations with soldiers. “Still there is a huge gap in the relations between Army officers and soldiers. You'll have to take all kinds of steps to reduce such gap,” she said while addressing the Forces Formation Commanders' conference at the Army Headquarters yesterday morning. Hasina said maintaining the chain of command within the force is a must for every member of the army. “You must ensure chain of command. All subordinates must abide by orders of the senior officers and at the same time, the commanders must look into the matters of the subordinates.” The prime minister gave two more directives in order to create more cohesive relations among the officers and soldiers. She said all seniors must remain highly watchful so that no disparity is created among the officers of different ranks and soldiers. “Some disparities still exist in case of housing, medical service, food, education facilities and punishment for violation of discipline in the force. Instead of viewing such disparities as minor issues, you have to be particularly attentive in this regard,” she told the formation commanders. Besides, Hasina said every member of the army will have to give due attention to training. “Internal discipline, unity, sympathy and empathy in the army will have to be maintained well and thus you have to unitedly foil any conspiracy against the motherland,” she said. Regarding promotion in jobs, she said honest, qualified and talented officers will have to be given promotions, and new officers and soldiers appointed on the basis of efficiency. Hasina said massive tasks are going on in the army in the light of proposed “Forces Goal 2030” for organisational reform and incorporating modern war equipment and specialised unit in the force. She asked the officers to build the force with the spirit of the 1971 liberation war as the force emerged through the nation's struggle for liberation. The prime minister observed that in the past a vested quarter in collaboration with the defeated force was active in distorting the nation's history of independence. In this regard, she mentioned that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his speech at the 1st BMA Course concluding function had said his dream was to build a highly skilled modern army for independent Bangladesh. She said the members of Bangladesh Army would have to remain firmly committed to safeguarding democracy at any cost. “You have to work as the fearless soldier in establishing rule of law and ensuring welfare of the masses. You have to be respectful to democracy and to act as sentinel of the Constitution,” Hasina told the army officers. She said the members of the Army will have to remain prepared to make supreme sacrifice to protect the country's independence and sovereignty. “You've to stand against militancy and terrorism with your highest strength and thus strengthen the nation as a whole.” The PM also told the formation commanders to convey her messages to the members of all levels in the army. She also appreciated the Military Operations other than war programmes under which the members of the army are participating in the government's various pro-people activities. She said the main objective of the government is attainment of rapid economic development of people maintaining internal stability in the country. Earlier, on her arrival at the Army Headquarters, the prime minister was received by the Defence Adviser to the PM Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and Army Chief General Mohammad Abdul Mubeen. Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Lt Gen Abdul Wadud, DGFI Director General Lt Gen Mollah Fazle Akbar, and PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were, among others, present.
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