Hasina asks armed forces to gain the people’s confidence

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the armed forces to work for gaining the people’s trust, without which no war can be won.

PM at army exercise in Rangpur

Addressing the military officers at the Darbar after attending the Bangladesh Army’s winter exercise in Rangpur on Thursday, she said, “We all need to earn the trust, confidence and love of the people.”

Army’s 66 Infantry Division organised the exercise titled “Brigade group attack” at Paglapir in Rangpur on Thursday.

In the exercise, the soldiers demonstrated how enemy territories could be captured.

After witnessing the exercise, the prime minister addressed the “Darbar” of the 66 Infantry Division.

Hasina said the professionalism of Bangladesh’s armed forces was evident in the exercise. “I am sure our armed forces are fully prepared to defeat any evil force to protect the integrity of the country.”

“Seeing your training skills, I can say you have truly imbibed the spirit of the Liberation War.”

She said that 'Rakta Gaurab’ memorial at Rangpur Cantonment is the glaring example of the sacrifices of the Bangladesh’s armed forces in the Liberation War.

“Sacrifices of the martyrs will further inspire the armed forces to protect the country,” she said.

In her address, the prime minister recalled the raft of measures taken by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in restructuring the armed forces of the independent Bangladesh.

Military Academy was established in 1974.

The prime minister also gave a brief account of the measures her government took during the 1996-2001 term for raising the armed forces’ capabilities.

One composite brigade, one infantry brigade, special organisations, several artillery regiments, riverine engineering battalion, infantry support battalion, field ambulance and an ordinance company were established during that period.

She pointed out that along with government employees, pay scales of security personnel have been increased as well.

“Pay scales have been increased by 123 percent. No government has ever given such a big salary hike.”

She said necessary initiatives and programmes have been taken to develop the armed forces as the one “suitable for the modern world.”

Her government was committed to build “modern and spectacular” armed forces by implementing the modernisation programme, Forces Goal 2030.

She recalled that after formulating defence policy in 1974, the Bangabandhu had said that as Meghna, Padma and Jamuna bifurcated Bangladesh into three regions, similarly armed forces, too, needed to be deployed in three commands.

Referring to that statement of her father, she said, “Already 17 Infantry Division in Sylhet and 10 Infantry Division in Ramu have been established.”

Hasina said the government has undertaken construction of a cantonment in Barisal.

Appreciating armed forces’ role in rescue and relief operations during natural and man-made calamities, she said, “66 Infantry Division has done a tremendous job by building shelters for landless people in northern part of the country.”

Even during this exercise, the army has distributed winter clothes, provided free medical aids, conducted free operations and been involved in various other social works.

The prime minister also appreciated the inclusion of BGB, Ansars and the BNCC cadets in this year’s exercise.

“I think this strategy of defending the motherland involving the paramilitary forces and general people is really commendable, and it has added a new dimension to the war strategy of our armed forces,” she said.

Earlier, Army Chief General Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Huq received her after her helicopter touched down at Rangpur’s Paglapir at around 11.45am.