Be prepared to face any threat to uphold constitution: PM

The Prime Minister said the 10th Jatiya Sangsad polls were held on January 5 for constitutional obligation and maintaining democratic process and Bangladesh Army has played a significant role in smooth and successfully holding of the elections.

"So the armed forces will have to always remain alert and be ready to face any threat to uphold the holy constitution of Bangladesh and strengthen the democratic trend in future," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the presence of the members of Bangladesh Army along with other law enforcement agencies brought comfort in the public mind during the election time.

"The people had been able to exercise their voting rights by going to the polling centres without fear," she said, extending her sincere thanks and gratitude to all members of army.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a conference of the generals at the Officers\' Mess (new) of Army Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment this morning.

Placing emphasis on maintaining chain of command of the army, she said the senior officials will have to present themselves before the junior officers as an example of morality, honesty and dutifulness.

"You will have to earn respect and loyalty of the sub- ordinates and look after their all needs, hopes and aspirations and thought," she said.

The Prime Minister also directed senior officials of Bangladesh Army to continue discharging their duties maintaining mutual trust, sympathy, brotherhood and discipline as well as remaining loyal to the leadership.

"As senior officers, you will have to play a pioneering role in maintaining trust, belief and respect in every tire of the force," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, who is also in-charge of the Ministry of Defence, said her government is pledge-bound to build efficient, modern and strong armed forces. "We took initiatives for the development and modernization of the armed forces whenever we formed the government,'' she added.

"We can say with pride that whatever significant development has been made that took place during the Awami League government," she said.

She extended her sincere thanks to the all of Bangladesh Army, including the chief of army staff, to take forward the development trend of the government by keeping the force's advancement ongoing despite different adversities.

Pointing out the formation of the government by the Awami League for the fourth time, the Prime Minister said: "Our government is always pledge-bound to run the country as the servants of the people."

Sheikh Hasina said her government has always got the cooperation of the army to serve the mass people. "It is my firm belief that during the running of state, the army will stand beside the people whenever they would be called," she added.

Referring to the BDR carnage at Peelkhana on February 25 in 2009 in which 57 army officers were killed brutally, the Prime Minister said there was a commitment of her government to complete the trial within shortest possible time.

"I was determined to keep my commitment and we have set an example by finishing such a big trial within a short time," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said various important responsibilities including supervision work of the much-awaited Padma Bridge have been entrusted in the glorious Bangladesh Army thanks to its professional reputation and dependency.

"I firmly believe that the army would accomplish the important and national responsibilities with utmost integrity and I hope that the nation will witness your massive involvement in the national development activities," she said.

The Prime Minister said epoch-making development took place in the infrastructure of the army during previous two tenures of Awami League led government.

In this regard, she assured providing of all assistance and cooperation to further reorganize, modernize and strengthen the capability of the force, saying her government in its present term would continue the trend of development of the army.

"It is my active consideration to establish a new division at Ramu in Cox's Bazaar and an infantry division at Char Bhabanipur near Rajbari during our present tenure," she said.

Describing various programmes undertaken for the development of the Army, Sheikh Hasina said the implementation of the Forces Goal 2030 has advanced to a significant level.

In the light of the Forces Goal 2030, she said, her government has already inducted many avant-garde and sophisticated weapons and equipment in the army to strengthen its combat power and mobility.

The Prime Minister said massive changes have also been brought in the organizational structure of the Army in the light of the Forces Goal 2030.

In this context, she mentioned establishment of 17 Infantry Division in Sylhet under which one brigade and two battalions are working, an Air Defense Regiment at Mirpur Cantonment in Dhaka and two adhoc mechanized brigades at Savar and Bogra, one military farm at Chittagong Cantonment and an SSD at Kholahati Cantonment.

Besides, she said, one area headquarters, one engineering battalion, one MP unit and one field intelligence unit have been set up in Sylhet on adhoc basis.

Citing the contribution of members of the army to develop the infrastructure of the country, she said the force has been playing very important role in constructing flyovers, bridges, roads and highways and other infrastructures.

Earlier on her arrival at the venue, the Prime Minister was received by the Prime Minister's Defense Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and Chief of Army Staff General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan.