Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the Bangladesh Ordnance Factories (BOF) to produce arms, ammo, weapons and explosives for various forces to reduce dependence on import.

“You [ordnance factories] will have to keep in mind that we won't import all the arms and explosives.... If we can produce enough, we'll go for export in future,” she told a meeting of high officials of the defence ministry and its associated bodies at the ministry conference room.

Hasina, also in-charge of the ministry, said the ordnance factories have been producing 7.62 millimetre auto rifle, cartridges of various calibre and hand grenades for the Bangladesh Army.

She hoped that steps would be taken to enhance the capacity of the officials and employees of the BOF to meet the local demand for arms, ammo and explosives.

Referring to the verdicts in maritime boundary cases against Myanmar and India, the PM said it was both political and diplomatic success of her previous government to gain the vast maritime area through winning the cases and the relations with the two neighbours are intact.

Hasina said the target of her present government is to reduce poverty by another 10 percent from the present level of 24 percent.

The extreme poverty in the country is now nine percent, which would be eradicated within the next two to three years, she added.

She stressed the need for building a modern defence system to safeguard national independence and sovereignty.

Terming the armed forces the symbol of the country's independence and sovereignty, she said various programmes are being implemented for further enhancing the capability of the army, navy and air force.

Referring to the defence policy framed in 1974 as per directives of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said the Forces Goal- 2030 has been formulated in light of the defence policy.

Praising the role of the members of the armed forces in maintaining international peace, stability and security, she said they earned huge appreciation of the world community. The forces would have to continue their laudable role in maintaining global peace, she noted.

Hasina said her government was very much active in maintaining Bangladesh's position as the highest number of peacekeeper-contributing country to the United Nations.

Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, PM's security affairs adviser; the chiefs of the three services, Md Abul Kalam Azad, PM's principal secretary; Kazi Habibul Awal, senior secretary at the defence ministry; and AKM Shameem Chowdhuri, PM's press secretary; were present.