Members of the President Guard Regiment (PGR) pose for photograph with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at PGR Headquarters, Dhaka Cantonment yesterday.Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday renewed her government's commitment to ensure higher training for members of the armed forces and procure modern weapons and equipment for their modernisation.
Addressing a function at the Headquarters of the President Guard Regiment (PGR) marking its 35th founding anniversary, Hasina said all steps will be taken so that Bangladesh can send more troops to the UN peacekeeping missions.
PGR Commandant Brig Gen Humayun Khaled also spoke on the occasion.
Ministers, members of parliament and chiefs of the three services were present.
Praising performance of the PGR members, the PM called upon the PGR members to continue their training and acquire professional excellence with high skill, discipline and loyalty.
She recalled with deep gratitude to the PGR members who in the past sacrificed their lives while performing their duties. She also assured members of the armed forces of taking necessary measures to remove their housing problems.
About her government's vision to turn Bangladesh into a modern digital one, Hasina vowed to serve the people's interests at any cost.
“By voting us to power, the people have reposed a great responsibility on us. They have kept faith and trust on us. We will have to honour their trust at any cost,” Hasina said.
She said the government started its journey with the 'charter of change' for the well-being of the people and the nation.
Hasina said when the present government took the office, the country was facing severe power crisis, price hike of essentials and impacts of global economic recession.
She listed several programmes of her previous government, including introducing rice instead of bread in day-time meal for soldiers and treatment facilities for their parents and family members irrespective of their ranks.
She also mentioned her government's initiatives to build a 500-bed hospital along with the Armed Forces Medical College to ensure medical facilities for family members of the armed forces.
Hasina said although the hospital was not established afterwards, now the government is determined to build the hospital.
She said the government has implemented various programmes like equalising ration for the Army with the Air Force and the Navy and increasing daily allowance of the JCOs and other ranks for their temporary duties.
Besides, she said the government has increased daily allowance of the army to Tk 20 from Tk nine for their duty of civil power as well as LPR duration and financial benefit from four months to six months for the JCO and other ranks.
Steps have also been taken to provide collateral-free loan to the soldiers from the Trust Bank so that they can refurbish their houses during their two months annual leave, she added.
Pointing to poor housing condition of the soldiers, Hasina said the government is contemplating to increase housing facilities for them within the cantonment area.
She said the government has also introduced low-cost and free telephone facilities for the Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers so they can easily talk to their family members from abroad.
Mentioning the difficulties faced by the Bangladesh Army with the foreign forces for their ranks of colonial era like 'Nayek' and 'Hawildar' Hasina said this had also been worked out to overcome the problems.
Hasina recalled with gratitude Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who established the PGR.
She, however, regretted that Bangabandhu could not see formal functions of the PGR for the tragic incident of August 15, 1975.
Hasina advised the PGR in particular to continue their training programmes, saying that there is no alternative to acquiring knowledge and enhancing proficiency.
She expressed the hope that the PGR would continue their endeavor in the future for ensuring foolproof security to the heads of state and government with their sincerity and devotion.
Earlier, the prime minister inspected the Quarter Guard and took salute from the smartly turned out contingent of the PGR at the PGR Headquarters.
She met with relatives of the martyred soldiers who laid down their lives while on duty in the past and distributed gifts among them.