Govt making armed forces stronger, time-befitting: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government wants to develop a professional and well-trained armed force for Bangladesh to keep pace with the constantly-changing world.
“We’re well aware of what is needed for the country and when, and we’re taking measures accordingly…we want to develop a professional and well-trained armed force,” she said.
The PM was addressing the graduation ceremony of the National Defence Course (NDC) and Armed Forces War Course (AFWC) 2019 of the National Defence College at Sheikh Hasina Complex in Mirpur Cantonment.
She said the government is taking forward the armed forces to make them stronger and more time-befitting by formulating the Forces Goal-2030 in light of the defence policy adopted by the Father of the Nation. “We’ve been working to collect modern military hardware and arranging trainings,” she said.
“The world is changing constantly. So, we’ll have to move keeping pace with the change,” Hasina added.
She said her government had been procuring the latest military hardware and arranging proper trainings for the Armed Forces personnel so that they could be familiar with modern war equipment used in UN peacekeeping missions and so that they do not hesitate to play their role under any circumstance.
NDC Commandant Lt Gen Sheikh Mamun Khaled delivered the welcome speech.
A total of 85 officers from the armed forces, civil administration and foreign military forces successfully completed the NDC Course 2019 while 38 the AFWC-2019 at the NDC.
Of the 85 NDC graduates, there are military officers from 16 foreign countries, including China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, the UK, Mali and Niger.
Pointing at fresh graduates, she said the participants carried out studies and research over different important issues of the State as well as acquired knowledge over different problems and work plans of the governance of the State.
“I believe the prudent application of knowledge will undoubtedly have contribution to the national progress of Bangladesh,” said the PM.
She said foreign military officers from 24 friendly-countries have so far received higher training in the college. “You (foreign graduates) will be our (Bangladesh’s) goodwill ambassadors as you stayed here and have been able to know Bangladesh for last one year,” she said.