Merit, not politics, should guide promotions

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday directed members of the navy and air force selection boards to consider officers for promotion based on professional competence and merit, keeping political ideology and personal likes or dislikes aside.

He said professional skills, leadership qualities, discipline, integrity, loyalty and overall suitability for appointment should be given priority while evaluating officers for promotion.

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The prime minister gave the directive while inaugurating the Navy and Air Force Selection Boards-2026 at the Bangladesh Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment.

Eligible navy officers holding the ranks of captain, commander and lieutenant commander, and air force officers holding the ranks of group captain, wing commander and squadron leader, will be considered for promotion by the boards, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

Tarique said the navy and air force have been playing an important role not only in safeguarding the country’s independence and sovereignty but also in supporting the civil administration in maintaining internal peace and stability and responding to disasters.

Earlier, the prime minister was received at the venue by his Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Khondkar Misbah ul Azim and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.

Before the inauguration, the prime minister formally adorned the newly appointed Navy chief with the rank badge of admiral and congratulated him.