Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday called upon the members of the armed forces to always remain prepare to face any threat to country’s sacred constitution and 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.
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, Begum Rowshan Ershad, PM’s special envoy and former president HM Ershad, chiefs of Bangladesh Army, 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.
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. – BSS
