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Published on October 30, 2013
Sheikh Hasina also urged the members of the air force to keep themselves always ready to face any threat for protecting the holy constitution that means continuation of democracy. "You will have to keep yourselves always ready by remaining united for protecting the sovereignty of the country," she said. "It is my belief that you would enhance your reputation gradually on the world stage by brightening the image of the homeland through your own consideration, professional skill and dutifulness," she added.
Describing government’s initiative for modernizing the air force, she said, We have already taken massive programmes for modernization as well as physical infrastructure development and implementation of welfare-oriented activities of the air force," Sheikh Hasina said 16 fighter planes from China and three Mi- 171 helicopters were inducted in the air force in 2010-11 fiscal year. She said one surface to air missile system, the first of its kind, was added to the air force in 2011. The Prime Minister said the government has inked a deal with China to purchase nine jet trainer aircraft. "The signing of agreement with Russia for buying 24 advanced jet trainer aircraft and five Mi- 171 helicopters under the state credit is under process," she said.
The Prime Minister said the government in 2010-11 and 2011- 12 fiscal years signed deals to buy four air defence radars for the air bases Paharkanchanpur, Beershreshtha Motiur Rahman and Moulvibazar as well as southeastern region and the special economic zones in the Bay of Bengal. Sheikh Hasina said the government has raised the retirement age of the air force pilots to utilize their experiences and skills for the country effectively. "We have also re-fixed job tenure of the air force troops keeping consistency with their ranks," she said.
The Prime Minister concluded her speech by saying that the members of the air force are playing an important role in rescue operation including tackling natural disasters side by side with protecting the country's independence and sovereignty.
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