Consider '71 spirit in giving promotion

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the spirit of independence and Liberation War should be the basic and prime guiding principles for army, while this should also be an issue of consideration for the officers' promotion in service as well.

Addressing Army Headquarters Selection Board-2016 at Dhaka Cantonment, she said the military leadership should be delegated to officers who are patriotic and have faith in the spirit of the great war of liberation.

Hasina, who is also in charge of the defence ministry, asked the selection board to take into consideration the officers leadership quality, professional competence, field level success, discipline, honesty and obedience for promotion.

The prime minister said members of the army during the tenure of the present government always stood by it whenever it was necessary. For this reason, it's required to give leadership to the competent, efficient, able and patriotic officers.

Hasina expressed satisfaction over the introduction of 'TRACE' (Tabulated Record and Comparative Evaluation) system for officers' promotion in the army.

The system gives comparative evaluation of different aspects of professional competence, she said.

She said a disciplined and strong army can play a very pivotal role in strengthening and consolidating democracy in a country. So, leadership should remain in the hands of the officers who are educated, able, conscious and intelligent and above all who have the determination to consolidate democracy.

"You have to rise above every personal likes and dislikes and judge everything impartially to pick up the patriotic officers," the prime minister said.

Pointing out to the development of the Bangladesh Army after independence, she said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman within a very short span of time after independence turned the Bangladesh Army into a full-fledged force from a brigade.

Bangabandhu had established Bangladesh Military Academy and other institutions apart from collecting technology, weapons, ammunition and other military armours, she said, adding that, the military sector, like the civil sector, was highly neglected during the rule of Pakistan.

For instance, the prime minister said the then East Pakistan had no senior army officers with the ranks of general, major general, brigadier and colonel during Pakistan era except two Lt colonels, 10 majors, seven naval officers and 40 air force officers.

PM's Security Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Army Chief General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, PM's Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Mahfuzur Rahman and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, among others, were present.