PM thanks three chiefs of staff for their role during the pandemic

Chiefs of the three military services yesterday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on occasion of Armed Forces Day.

Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat met the PM at Gono Bhaban in the morning.

In the beginning of the meeting, the PM greeted them on occasion of Armed Forces Day, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher at a press briefing.

She mentioned the glorious role of the country's armed forces in checking the coronavirus pandemic and different natural disasters.

Sheikh Hasina extended her thanks to every member of the armed forces for standing beside people during the pandemic.

She particularly thanked the army chief and every member of Bangladesh Army for standing beside people by checking the outbreak and raising public awareness about the pandemic.

The PM also thanked navy and air force chiefs, and each member of Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force for their humanitarian work, including emergency evacuation of Covid-19 patients.

She said the Awami League government has taken all steps in the last 12 years to ensure the armed forces can face geopolitical and military challenges of the 21st century.

Hasina assured them of continuing all sorts of government assistance to develop the armed forces.

She said the government has been implementing reconstitution and modernisation programmes for the three forces in phases, in line with Forces Goal 2030, following the defence policy of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The chiefs expressed their sincere thanks and gratitude to the PM for developing the armed forces in various fields, especially in the last 12 years during AL's tenure.

PM's Security Affairs Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Md Mahfuzur Rahman and PM's Military Secretary Major General Naquib Ahmed Chowdhury were present at the time.