PM urges army, civil admin to stay alert

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the Armed forces, the civil administration and people at large to remain alert as the anti-liberation forces are trying hard to foil the trial of the identified war criminals.
“The anti-liberation forces are trying hard to raise their heads again, they’re hatching conspiracies to foil the trial of the identified war criminals… they’re on a destructive path ignoring the democratic one…their conspiracies will continue. I urge the patriotic armed forces, civil administration and the people of the country to remain alert,” she said.
The prime minister was addressing the graduation ceremony of National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course 2012 at Mirpur Cantonment.
Long before the country’s independence, Hasina recalled, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of building a strong armed force and placed the 6-point demand in 1966 focusing on forming a provincial paramilitary government. “He also demanded a military academy, provincial Naval Headquarters and Ordnance factory on this land.”
The prime minister said her government always focuses on well-trained and professional armed forces and kept on increasing the defence budget for the last four years.
Hasina said her government, during its previous tenure, established the National Defence College as there was no institution for the higher training of senior and junior officers of armed forces in the country before 1996.
“This institution has turned into an internationally reputed training institution. It’s indeed a matter of pride for the nation,” she added.
Hasina also mentioned that new battleships have been procured while runways are being expanded in addition introducing high-tech modern equipment.
Besides, she said, the government is lobbying in international forums so that the participation of Bangladesh army personnel in peacekeeping forces could be increased alongside increased corresponding share in higher command appointments.
Sheikh Hasina said the present government has introduced new medical facilities, upgraded educational institutions and ration scale for the welfare of their family members apart from strengthening the force.
Hasina said today the world is changing very fast and the security of the country is no more confined to securing land boundary only.
“Food security, energy security, social security, international relationship, control of cyber world, environmental security all these are challenges of the 21st century. If any one of those security gets vulnerable, the national security will be in danger,” she mentioned.
The prime minister suggested the participants of courses to apply their knowledge and rare experiences they gained in the year-long training in their own domain and implement those while discharging their duties.
Sheikh Hasina said the aim of the Liberation War was not only to earn geographical independence but also to gain economic emancipation.
“But the subsequent governments that assumed power after the assassination of the Father of the Nation distanced themselves from the objective,” she added.
She said the people of the country voted the present government to power to fulfil their hopes and aspirations and the government is working to turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021.
The prime minister highlighted various successes of her government, including in agriculture, health, education, social safety net, poverty alleviation, and advancement towards building a digital nation by 2021.
Hasina said her government is keeping its mark of development in all sectors, and sought the support of the countrymen again to continue this trail of development.
A total of 63 senior army and civil officials, including 27 from China, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Egypt, Jordan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Nigeria and Brunei, attended the NDC course while 24 local defense officials participated in the Armed Forces War Course this year.
Commandant of the College Lieutenant General Molla Fazle Akbar gave welcome address at the function.