Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the armed forces to maintain the dignity they have earned by standing beside the people.
"Our every force always stands beside the people alongside safeguarding the country's independence and sovereignty…. So, they get respect from everyone. We'll have to go forward keeping up this dignity," she said.
The premier said this while addressing a programme marking the 48th founding anniversary of President Guard Regiment (PGR) at its headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment.
She said the armed forces serve the local people simultaneously with discharging the responsibility bestowed on them even in the peacekeeping mission in other countries.
The PM appreciated the members of the PGR for professionalism, dedication, dutifulness and sincerely in performing their duties.
She asked the PGR members to perform their duty with patriotism and honesty
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“Braving all adverse weather including storm and rain, your sincere duties are highly appreciated,” she said.
The prime minister extended her greetings to all members of the guards’ family on the occasion of founding anniversary of the regiment.
Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founded the PGR on July 5 in 1975, Hasina said he had built all the forces befitting for an independent and sovereign country.
Focusing on various steps taken by her government for overall development of the armed forces and their institutions, she said, now all the institutions have become international standard ones.
The PM said her government formulated the Defense Policy and the Forces Goal-2030 in line with the Defence Policy-1974 framed by Bangabandhu in order to modernize the forces. “Now we’ve been implementing the Forces Goals,” she said.
She said the forces have been made capable so that they can keep pace with other forces while working in the peacekeeping missions in foreign lands.
Referring to the false corruption allegations brought by the World Bank on the Padma Bridge she said the government constructed the bridge with its own resources which brightened the image of Bangladesh and changed the attitude of the international community towards it.
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The premier said Bangladesh takes debts from development partners and repay the loans with interest.
“But once there was an attitude as if we were taking alms,” she said, adding that none can dare anymore to give conditions on debts after the decision taken to construct Padma Bridge with own finance.
She reiterated her commitment to build Bangladesh as a developed, prosperous and Smart country by 2041.
The prime minister asked all not to keep a single inch of land uncultivated in the current global situation and plant trees in the rainy season.
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Earlier, the premier went around different tables and exchanged pleasantries with the PGR members after arriving at the venue.
She handed over gifts to the family members of the PGR members who lost their lives and sustained severe injuries while on duty.
PM's Security Affairs Adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed and President's Military Secretary Major General S M Salahuddin Islam were on the dais.
PGR Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Khaled Kamal delivered the welcome speech.