PM Urges Army To Remain Prepared Against Any Threat To Democracy

She also urged the army to remain careful about the surge of militancy and terrorism saying all of us have to remain aware so that militancy or terrorism cannot raise their head by any means. "The root of the evil forces should be eliminated from the country in the interest of development and prosperity," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while raising the flags of 10 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army at Ramu Cantonment here today.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that the Division would play crucial role in safeguarding the country's southeastern region and protecting the natural resources of the area. She expressed her firm conviction that the 10 Infantry Division would emerge as an ideal force to show pathway to others in operational, administrative and training activities of the army.

She said in the past, members of the armed forces always extended their support to her government in delivering service to the people. "In future they will also stand beside the people in their needs," she said.

Cabinet members, Leader of the Opposition Begum Rowshan Ershad, PM's special envoy and former president HM Ershad, chiefs of Bangladesh Naval Force and Bangladesh Air Force, parliament members, diplomats and senior military and civil officials were present.

Flags of newly formed artillery and infantry brigade and regiments under the Division were also raised on the occasion.

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain raised the flag of 10 Artillery Brigade, Agriculture Minister Matiya Chowdhury hoisted flag of 97 Infantry Brigade, HM Ershad hoisted the flag of 23 Regiment Artillery, General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan raised the flag of 60 East Bengal Regiment and former Army chief Major General KM Shafiullah raised the flag of 66 Bangladesh Infantry Regiment.

Army Chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan and GOC of 10 Infantry Division Major General Ataul Hakim Sarwar Hasan received the Prime Minister as she arrived Ramu Cantonment.

Sheikh Hasina raised the flags of newly formed 10 Artillery Brigade, 97 Infantry Brigade, 23 Field Regiment Artillery, 60 East Bengal Regiment and 36 Infantry Regiment under the 10 Infantry Division.

An attractive parade was arranged on the occasion. The Prime Minister inspected the parade and took state salute.

The Prime Minister hoped that members of the Division would always perform their duties with devotion, putting in their best efforts for development of the area, social harmony and coexistence of the people of every faith and religion.

Sheikh Hasina said Cox's Bazar, surrounded by sea, hills and greeneries, is one of the world's charming tourism places. She said she is happy to know that a new division, its two brigades and other units were established here.

Members of the Bangladesh Army have played a praiseworthy role in reconstructing the Buddhist Pagodas in Ramu and maintaining communal harmony after the fateful incidents on September 29, 2012. "Their activities earned huge acclamation from home and abroad at that time," she said.

She reiterated her government's firm commitment to do everything necessary for development of the armed forces and said as the head of the government she tried her best to provide all support in this regard and it will continue in future aimed at building up a modern and competent armed force.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Army, which was formed in the war of liberation, is an integral part of the country's populace. Members of the army are playing praiseworthy role in national building activities as well as extending help in facing natural disasters and infrastructure development.

The Prime Minister said members of Bangladesh armed forces are discharging their duties not only at home, but also at international level in peacekeeping, democratic transition, social development, expansion of the health and education facilities and reconstruction.

She hoped that members of the armed forces would perform their duties being loyal to their superiors on the basic principles of mutual trust, fraternity, sympathy, responsibility, dutifulness and above all discipline.

Members of the armed forces with their wisdom, professional competence and devotion to job would further brighten country's image abroad, she also hoped.

Sheikh Hasina said discipline and peace are prerequisites for taking forward the development activities. Terrorist and militant activities not only dash down the development but also create threat to country's integrity and law and order.

She said her government since her office in 1996, is making relentless efforts to build a time-befitting and modern armed forces in light of the defense policy which Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced in 1974.

After independence, she said, Bangabandhu despite various limitations had taken steps for raising Bangladesh armed forces on a strong foundation as a watchful safeguard of the country's independence and sovereignty. "Within a very short span of time Bangabandhu established Bangladesh Military Academy, Combined Arms School and other important organizations," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government, after taking office in 1996, established and reorganized one infantry division, one composite brigade, Special Works Organization (SWO), one armour regiment, three infantry divisions, two artillery regiment, one riverine engineering battalion, two engineering construction battalion and one support and transport battalion.

In line of that development of the armed forces, she said NDC, BIPSOT, AFMC, MIST and NCOs were established as part of modernization and improvement of the Bangladesh Army.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Infantry Regimental Centre was established to bring dynamism in the development and other activities of Bangladesh Army. Procurement of highly sophisticated arms and ammunition are going on. Hotel Radisson, Trust Bank and other organizations were established to expand the areas of the social welfare activities of the army personnel.

The Prime Minister said her government is implementing various pragmatic programmes under the National Defense Policy and the Forces Goal-2030 for development, expansion and modernization of the armed forces.

As part of this programme, she said, 17 Infantry Division along with one infantry brigade and two infantry battalions were established in Sylhet. A composite brigade comprising two infantry battalions and one engineering construction battalion were established for security and monitoring the execution of the Padma Bridge.

Pointing out the country's progress over the last six years during her office as the head of the government, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is now on the pathway of becoming a middle income country by 2021.

Over the last six years, she said, the country maintained average growth rate over six percent. Per capita income has been raised to US$ 1,190 while inflation rate came down below six percent.

Poverty rate dropped down to 24 percent from 57 percent over the period and the government envisaged to bringing down it further to 14 percent in next four years.

She said around 12 crore people now have access to mobile phone while over 4.5 crore people use internet. Digital technology has been expanded up to rural level opening information gateway and making the government more accountable and transparent to people.

Sheikh Hasina said people now get healthcare facilities at their doorstep. The country is self-reliant in food production. Consumable goods are within the purchase capacity of the people.

As part of the government's vision to stamp out illiteracy and build an educated nation, Sheikh Hasina said the government is reaching out to primary and secondary school students for distributing textbooks to them free of cost at the very beginning of their academic year.

"We are striving for creating an educated and workable manpower which will move forward the country. Now, Bangladesh is not a country dependent to others. We are constructing Padma Bridge with our own resources," she said.