"The strong and neutral role of army saved the country from an anarchic situation during a transition moment on January 11," said the president while addressing an army headquarters selection board meeting at Dhaka Cantonment.

President Iajuddin, also the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, said the pioneering and dynamic role of the military made successful the current government's campaign against corruption and severe crimes, earning it appreciation of the world community.

Moreover, the president said, the pioneering role of the army in preparing voter list with photographs and national identity cards also pleased the nation.

Iajuddin asked the army to find the competent people in the force for promotion with a "completely neutral" attitude so that they could play a special role in developing an efficient army.

He said the responsibility of the army should be vested with the persons who are "efficient, conscious, intelligent, patriotic and committed to the country and nation."

"Above all, they should remain above political ambition," the president said.

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Quarter Master General Lt Gen Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Military Secretary to the President Maj Gen Mohammad Aminul Karim, Defence Secretary Quamrul Hassan, Director General of Forces Intelligence Maj Gen Golam Mohammad and senior army officers were present at the meeting.

The president said army was developed in the process of the great Liberation War and it always played a strong role during all transition periods of the country.

"I firmly believe that the military will always stand by the government for the flourishing completely the democracy," he said.

The president said Bangladesh army this year received the Independence Award as recognition to its performance while their pioneering role in preparing the voters list and national ID cards was expected to be treated as milestone in the country's democratic and administrative history.

He said despite financial limitations the government took all measures to develop the national army with the capacity to face the 21st century challenges through modernisation and expansion.

"I am sure the establishment of the much expected Army Training and Doctrine Command will improve the overall training and professional standards of the armed forces," he said.

The president said he expected the army to promote its officers following the specific guidelines in future also.

"They should be responsible to the subordinates, respectful to the seniors, restrained in their behaviour and pious. We want professional army and that is why we need professionalism," he said.