President urges PGR members not to isolate dignitaries from people

President Md Abdul Hamid has urged President Guard Regiment (PGR) to ensure that the security arrangements made for dignitaries do not isolate them from the people.

He made the call at a function marking the 43rd founding anniversary of the regiment at the Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday.

The president said: “Most of the people for whose security you work are political personalities and closely involved in politics.

“So, they have to carry out political activities and maintain contact with leaders and activists besides discharging state and government duties.”

Hamid asked the PGR members to be ‘very conscious and tactful’.

“You have to consider the matter with importance so that important persons of the state do not get isolated from the people, including leaders and activists,” he said.

The president, also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, urged the PGR members to carry out their duties with full loyalty to the ‘chain of command’.

He said the PGR members were getting the ‘rare chance’ to uphold the image of the army and the country through participation in different state programmes and hoped they would continue to accomplish their tasks with highest sincerity.

The president promised all necessary initiatives for PGR’s ‘development and welfare’ taking into consideration its importance and prestige.

Senior military officials including Army Chief Lt Gen Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Huq and PGR acting Commander Col Md Jahangir Harun were present.

In another event marking the PGR’s founding anniversary, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the army to be partners in the march to development.

“I hope you will take the country ahead further through greatest patriotism and sense of duty,” she said.

Referring to her close relation with PGR, the prime minister said: “I see the Guard members every day while carrying out duties.

“(They) fulfil their responsibilities with trust, loyalty, discipline and professionalism braving the sun, rain and storm.”

She highlighted different initiatives her government had taken for the armed forces.

Prime Minister’s Security Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, chiefs of three services, and other high military officials were present at the programme.

Later, the prime minister joined an Iftar and a dinner organised on the occasion.

The PGR was founded on July 5, 1975 when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the president.

Its main responsibility is to provide security to the president, prime minister, their immediate family members and any other VVIPs.