Play Role in Ensuring Security, Tackling any Disaster, PM to new Naval Officers

"You will have to retain the confidence and love you have earned at any cost and play a pioneering role in ensuring geographical security of the country and tackling any disaster shouldering with the members of Bangladesh Army and Air Force," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the Winter President Parade of Midshipman-2013/A Batch and Direct Entry Officers (DEO) 2014/B Batch at Bangladesh Naval Academy here this morning.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inspected the parade riding on an open jeep. She also took salute on the occasion. Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral M Farid Habib and Commandant of BNA Commodore Nazmul Hassan accompanied the Prime Minister.

Ministers, advisers, parliament members, chiefs of three services, diplomats, high civil and military officials as well as guardians of the midshipmen were present on the occasion.

Sheikh Hasina termed the cadets of Bangladesh Navy as the future leaders and said that they will have to give place the country's interest above the petty personal interest.

"You would never do such work which will tarnish the reputation and tradition of navy," she said.

The Prime Minister also urged the cadets of Bangladesh Navy to build themselves as efficient officers side by side with becoming human being with better moral quality.

"You will have to keep in mind that you are going to be engaged in the services of the nation. So you will have to build yourselves as efficient officers in the interest of the professional responsibility. Like that you will have to become human being with better moral quality in the personal life," she said.

Sheikh Hasina suggested the cadets to remember the history of glory and sacrifice of the predecessors who embraced martyrdom for the beloved motherland.

"You will have to follow the discipline and labour being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation. Then you could be established as true patriotic officers," she said.

Spelling out her government's steps for development of Bangladesh Navy, the Prime Minister said her government has undertaken short and long-term plans to build it as an effective three-dimensional force under the Forces Goal-2030.

"Sixteen ships have been inducted in the navy within very short time of the tenure of our government," she said, adding Bangladesh Navy entered into a new era through addition of two helicopters and two maritime patrol aircraft .

Sheikh Hasina said a process for induction of two submarines in the navy has already been finalised. "We hope that theses submarines would be added to the force by 2016," she said.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the construction of that two most modern corvettes is underway in China to build a strong navy. "These corvettes would be inducted in navy next year," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has earned self-reliance in constructing warships."Most modern warships are being built in Khulna Shipyard and Narayanganj Dockyard and Engineering Works run with the efficient management of navy," she said.

The Prime Minister said the largest naval base with aviation facility is being set up in Rabnabad area of Patuakhali. "We would build Bangladesh Navy as a most modern and strong force Insha Allah," she vowed.

Reiterating her government's firm commitment to establish armed forces as modern and time-befitting forces, Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken initiatives for development of Bangladesh Army and Air Force like Bangladesh Navy.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that it is a responsibility for the members of Bangladesh Navy to ensure security of the vast sea area as it is essential for the country's national economic development.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh earned independence and sovereignty through a bloody War of Liberation. "But we had to wait a long time for demarcation of own boundary," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had framed "The Territorial Waters Maritime Zones Act, 1974" to establish Bangladesh's rights in the sea by considering the multidimensional huge potentiality in the Bay of Bengal.

"But the initiative for demarcating boundary in the Bay of Bengal was not implemented after the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975," she said.

The Prime Minister said after assuming office in 1996 after a long 21 years, the Awami League government took initiative for demarcating disputed maritime areas with Myanmar and India.

"As a result, we have earned sovereignty in 1,18, 813 square kilometer areas in the Bay of Bengal through the verdicts of international arbitration courts," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said after assuming office in 1996, her government had undertaken various plans for infrastructural development, procurement of warships and increasing operational capacity of Bangladesh Navy for modernization of the force and making it time-befitting.

"During our previous tenure, we had inducted most modern frigate 'BNS Bangabandhu' in the navy," she said.

The Prime Minister said with the rotation of time, the little naval force has been turned into a dignified naval force. "It has been able to earn well recognition on the world stage including the UN peacekeeping missions," she said.

Sheikh Hasina congratulated the successful cadets who got commission in Bangladesh Navy through today's President Parade and hoped that they will place Bangladesh in more dignified position on the world stage by dedicating themselves to the motto of protecting the country.

Through the Winter President Parade, a total of 73 officers--60 from Midshipmen 2013/A Batch and13 from DEO 2014/B Batch--got commission. They included a Sri Lankan midshipman.

Acting Sub Lieutenant Farzana Jesmin received "Shaheed Moazzem Medal" from the DEO 2014/B Batch, while Midshipman KM Morshed Al Asef got the "Sword of Honour" from the Midshipmen 2013/A Batch as the best all round midshipman.

Besides, Midshipman M Raqibul Hasan received "Osmani Gold Medal" and Midshipman Mosammat Fatema Aktar got "Navy Chief Gold Medal" for achieving highest quality in professional and academic subjects.

The Prime Minister handed over the "Sword of Honour" and the medals to the best midshipmen.

Later, Sheikh Hasina planted a sapling and cut a commissioning cake on the occasion.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)