Bangladesh capable of protecting itself from external aggression: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh has attained all capabilities to protect its independence and sovereignty from any external aggressor.
"We believe in peace. Father of the Nation has given us the foreign policy 'Friendship to all, malice to none'. We believe in that policy, but if we're attacked from outside, we've attained the capability to protect our independence and sovereignty," she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing the President Parade 2021 of the 81st BMA Long Course at Bangladesh Military Academy at Bhatiari in Chattogram, joining it virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.
She asked the new cadets to devote themselves towards protecting the independence and sovereignty of the country as their prime task, and if needed, make the highest sacrifice.
Extending her best wishes and greetings to all the new officers on the auspicious occasion, she said by taking oath today they are entrusted with the sacred duty of defending the independence and sovereignty of the motherland.
"You have to remain vigilant and ready to fulfil this responsibility. You'll have to remain by the people of the country," she said.
The Prime Minister asked them to uphold the spirit of the independence and put it above everything as it has come at the cost of the blood of millions of martyrs.
Mentioning that "Bangabandhu Complex" has been constructed at the BMA with all kinds of sophisticated facilities for internal training of cadets, she said: "I hope that this modern training system will play a pivotal role in building a trained and modern army."
Hasina also noted that today's BMA is a successful embodiment of the military academy that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of -- for providing advanced training and developing capable leadership.
Describing various development programmes for Bangladesh Army, she said the government has established new infantry divisions, brigades, units and training institutes in the Bangladesh Army alongside taking necessary steps for its overall development.
The Prime Minister said three new infantry divisions and the first para-commando brigade have been formed in the army while sophisticated armoured vehicles and other equipment, such as state-of-the-art engineering and signalling equipment, various weapons, helicopters, aircraft, modern infantry gazettes and various other weapons have been incorporated into the army.
Hasina said the physical infrastructures required for the new weapons and equipment have been installed and built while work is underway to incorporate and expand a variety of weapons and equipment.
At the function, Battalion Senior Under Officer of the 81st BMA Long Course, Abdullah Al Islam, received the "Sword of Honour" as the best all-around cadet and Company Junior Under Officer Imrul Kayes got the "Army Chief Gold Medal" for his best performance in military subjects.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed handed over both the "Sword of Honour" to Abdullah Al Islam and the "Army Chief Gold Medal" to Imrul Kayes.
Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed Also spoke at the programme.