DHAKA, March 29, 2022 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked the
Bangladesh Armed Forces personnel to always be ready to protect the country's
independence and sovereignty.
 
 "We don't want to engage in war with anyone . . . But, we have to get ready
to defend ourselves properly if any external enemy attacks," she said.
 
 The premier said this while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Sheikh
Russell Cantonment at Jazira in Shariatpur, joining virtually from her
official residence Ganabhaban here.
 
 Mentioning that Bangladesh follows Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman's basic principle "friendship to all, malice to none", she
said, "We believe in that policy."
 
 But, each member of the Armed Forces has to remain prepared to defend the
country's independence and sovereignty, she added.
 
 In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said that her government has taken
necessary measures to make the country's Armed Forces modern, educated and
prosperous further.
 
 She said, "I believe that each member of the armed forces will gradually
increase their reputation with own wisdom, professional skills and
dutifulness."
 
 She pointed out that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formulated the
"National Defense Policy-1974" and within a short time, he established more
than 100 units and institutions for the army, including the Bangladesh
Military Academy and the Combined Arms School.
 
 After the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu along with most of his family
members on 15 August 1975, she said there was instability inside the Armed
Forces and nearly 19-20 coups were staged when huge armed forces officers and
soldiers were killed.
 
 Assuming power after 21 years in 1996, she said that the Awami League
government adopted the development and modernization plan for the Armed
Forces.

She said they have established National Defense College and Military
Institute of Science and Technology in 1998 while Bangladesh Institute of
Peace Support Operations Training and Armed Forces Medical College in 1999.
 
 Besides, her government first recruited female officers in Army, Navy and
Air Force in 2000, she added.
 
 After winning consecutive elections since 2008, she said they have been
implementing short, medium and long term plans to build a trained and up-to-
date armed forces, framing "Forces Goal-2030" on the basis of National
Defense Policy-1974 formulated by Bangabandhu.
 
 In addition, she said they've established Bangladesh Peace Building Center
in 2016 and formulated 'National Defense Policy, 2018.
 
 To match up with the developed world, the premier said her government has
incorporated modern infantry gazettes to the army.

"My goal was that each member of our Armed Forces might prepare themselves in
a time-befitting manner," she added.
 
 Sheikh Hasina, the elder daughter of Bangabandhu, said her two brothers
Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal were members of Bangladesh Army, but later
Kamal got admitted to the Dhaka University due to my mother's choice.
 
 She said Sheikh Jamal joined the army completing regular training at the
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
 
 She extended her gratitude to the army chief and members of army for naming
Mawa and Jazira cantonments as "Sheikh Russell Cantonment", mentioning that
her younger brother Sheikh Russell had also desire to be an army officer
after growing up.
 
 Regarding the Padma Bridge, Sheikh Hasina said she had laid the foundation
stone of the bridge in 2001 but coming to power, the then BNP government
stopped it and they wanted to shift the bridge from here.
 
 Again assuming office, she said, her government has moved up to construct
Padma Bridge but the World Bank stepped aside from funding the work raising
false corruption allegations.
 
 But, they (World Bank) had failed to probe the allegation when it was
challenged by her (Prime Minister) and Canadian Court also didn't find any
corruption here, she added.
 
 She continued, "In this context, I decided to give a strong response to them
and construct the bridge with own financing . . . today we've constructed the
Padma Bridge."
 
 She went on saying that the 99 Composite Brigade and the Cantonment has been
established to ensure the security of the Padma Bridge.
 
 At the ceremony, the prime minister also received a state salute from a
smartly turned out contingent of 99 Composite Brigade.
 
 Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed also spoke.
 
 General Officer Commanding of 9th Infantry Division and Commander of Savar
Area Major General Shaheenul Haque presented a brief description of the
Sheikh Russell Cantonment.
 
 At the outset of the ceremony, an audio-visual documentary on the Sheikh
Russell Cantonment was also screened.