Disciplined, strong army helps establish, integrate democracy: Hasina

A disciplined and strong army plays a very helpful role in establishing and integrating democracy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said.

She urged the army to entrust skilled, efficient and patriotic officers with its higher commands in a meeting with the Army Headquarters Selection Board 2018 in Dhaka on Sunday.

Hasina believes the senior army officers will be able to find patriotic officers who believe in the spirit of Liberation War through impartial analysis beyond any personal preferences, she said.

The prime minister also spoke about the initiatives of the government of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after independence to develop the army.

“And our government is continuing the development and modernisation of the army following the Forces Goal 2030 made in light of the guidelines by the Father of the Nation,” she said.

She praised the army for its role in handling the Rohingya refugee crisis. “The army’s activities have brightened the image of Bangladesh in the world,” she said. 

Army chief General Aziz Ahmed, Prime Minister’s Security Affairs Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, PMO Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman and Defence Secretary Akhter Hussain Bhuiya were also present.