Army to be built as world-class force

The efforts to build the Bangladesh Army as a world-class force through realistic and up-to-date training will continue, said Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed yesterday.

"Apart from the training, Bangladesh Army stands by the people in all possible sectors," he told reporters after witnessing the army's winter exercise in Mymensingh.

The four-week long winter exercise of the Bangladesh Army concluded at Chechu Bazar in Muktagachcha upazila of the district.

The 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army conducted the training titled 'Training Nabodiganta' successfully.

General Shafiuddin witnessed the exercise with other army personnel.

The army chief also said technology has advanced in the world and the use of technology in battlefields can be seen. "Artificial intelligence has also been taken under cognisance so that we can enrich the force by adding this technology in our future battle plan."

About the exercise session, he said it increases the capacity of army members to perform their duty efficiently and confidently.

Asked about procuring modern armoured vehicles, General Shafiuddin said, "The prime minister has set a goal to modernise the force, especially the aviation, with the addition of advanced airplanes and choppers."

About the capability of the force in the cyber field, he said there is a plan to enhance cyber capability in the force's goal.

"Note that everything cannot be covered in a single exercise. This exercise focused on logistics capability."

Female members from Bangladesh Army and fighter jets of Bangladesh Air Force alongside the armoured vehicles and MLRS participated in the exercise.

The principal staff officers of Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding, Army Training and Doctrine Command (GOC ARTDOC) and senior military officers were present there.

On Sunday, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan briefed about the details of the exercise to the chief of army staff while Lieutenant General Md Saiful Alam, quarter master general, briefed about the logistics activities.

Members of Defence Journalist Association of Bangladesh and other media personnel were present there.

Later, the army chief also replied to different questions of media about the winter exercise while attending a press briefing held at Army Field Headquarter Media Cell.

Bangladesh Army organised the logistics field training exercise for the first time on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Bangladesh Army.

The arms and ammunition collected recently were used in the exercise, started on December 19, 2021.