Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday said the government has undertaken to update the armed forces division of the country.
"The incumbent government has taken some programmes to modernise the armed forces including raising facilities for the retired armed forces officials so they can contribute to different peace keeping programmes home and abroad," he said.
Azad was speaking as the chief guest at a memorial meeting at Raowa Club in the city. Hridom cultural society organised the function on the 7th death anniversary of 15 armed forces officials killed in a plane crash in Benin.
The minister said the government has already included information communication and technology (ICT) in the education curriculum of Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA).
Azad also praised the members of army, navy, air force, BDR (now BGB), police for their contribution during any natural calamities and the global peace keeping missions. "And that is why the whole nation is very proud of them."
The information ministry is also ready to cooperate to broadcast the contributions especially by the armed forces through the state-run media including Bangladesh Television (BTV).
Azad recalled the country's achieving the Dag Hammarskjöld medal. "Bangladesh won the award for the contribution in the UN peace keeping mission between 2002 and 2007."
Maj (retd) Amin Ahmed Afsari and founder of Hridom cultural society delivered the welcome speech at the meeting presided over by Raowa Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Jamil D Ahsan.
Dr NI Khan, former divisional head of the World Bank; Gen Jahir, force commander at the UN mission; Brig Gen Sharif Aziz, Brig Gen Shahjalal, Dr Fazley Selim, brother of martyred intellectual, Dr Fazley Rabbi; managing director of the state-run Jibon Bima Corporation; and civil and military officials, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Foni Bhusan Chowdhury, former Inspector General of Police (IGP); Maj Gen Zia Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC); Shawkat Nasrin, widow of martyred Lt Col M Shamsul Arefeen; Shabnam Mustari, renowned singer and winner of Ekushey Padak; and Shamsun Nahar Afsari, director of Hridom cultural society; attended the function.