Building up forces to protect sovereignty

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government is building up every force in such a way so that the country could avail all sorts of measures and training to protect its independence and sovereignty.

"We want peace, not war. But for protecting our country's independence and sovereignty we have to take all measures and training [and] we're building up all our forces that way," she said while addressing the President's Parade-2020, held at Bangladesh Naval Academy, Chattogram.

Attending the event virtually from her official residence Gonobhaban, Sheikh Hasina said the government had transferred Khulna Shipyard and dry dockyards in Chattogram and Narayanganj to the Navy.

"Our aim was to build warships from our own shipyards. We've already started some of our activities for that," she said, adding that a submarine base is being constructed at Pekua in Cox's Bazar while expansion works are going on for Rabanabad Naval Base.

Briefly describing various development activities of Bangladesh Navy, the premier said the government has turned Navy into a three-dimensional force following the Forces Goal 2030.

She said the government has inducted 27 warships, created skilled naval commando and rescue team and aviation teams, inducted two submarines in 2017 and constructed Bangabandhu Complex in the Naval Academy with modern facilities for providing better training.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, on behalf of the Prime Minister, distributed different awards among the cadets for their outstanding results.