PM takes salute at 75 BMA long course passing out parade

Dhaka, Dec 27 – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the newly-commissioned officers of Bangladesh Army to remain always alert and ready for safeguarding the country’s hard-earned independence and sovereignty.
“Keep in mind that the independence was earned in exchange for huge bloodshed and sacrifice. So it’s a responsibility of all to make independence meaningful and reach its fruits to every house of Bangladesh,” she said.
The prime minister said this while addressing the President’s Parade marking the obtaining commission by the cadet officers of 75 BMA Long Course of the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) at the BMA Parade Ground in Bhatiari in Chittagong.Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday is the happiest and important day for the newly- commissioned officers, as a sacred responsibility for protecting the great independence and sovereignty of the motherland is being reposed on them from now on.
“So they’ll have to always remain vigil and ready for discharging this duty … protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty with supreme sacrifice would be their first and main motto,” she said.
Earlier, the prime minister reviewed the smartly turned out parade riding on an open jeep and took salute at the impressive march past. She also distributed awards to an outstanding cadet.
Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq and BMA Commandant Major General Saiful Alam accompanied the prime minister. Ministers, advisers, parliament members, senior political leaders, the chiefs of Bangladesh Navy and Air Force, diplomats and high civil and military officials, parents and guardians of the newly-commissioned officers were present.
Through the parade, a total of 350 cadets — 343 Bangladeshis, five Palestinians and two Sri Lankans — got commission. Battalion Senior Under Officer Sadmanur Rahman, who was adjudged the best all-round cadet in the 75 BMA Long Course, received the “Sword of Honour” from the premier. He also obtained the “Chief of Army Staff Gold Medal” for acquiring highest standard in the military subjects.
Earlier, on her arrival at the BMA Parade Ground, the prime minister was received by Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 24 Infantry Division and Area Commander of Chittagong Area Major General Md Jahangir Kabir Talukdar and GOC of Army Training and Doctrine Command Lt Gen Abdul Aziz and and BMA Commandant Major General Saiful Alam.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Army has been able to earn praises from all quarters for its efficiency and professionalism in discharging responsibilities reposed on them at home and abroad.
“You’ll have to take this reputation ahead further. The people of any part of the world would know Bangladesh Army as a symbol of peace and prosperity–it is my expectation,” she said.
Reminding the newly-commissioned officers that they’re the children of this country and an integral part of the people, the premier said they’ll have to be an equal partner of weal and woes, and laughing and crying of the mass people.
“They’ll have to stand beside the periled people during any disaster and bad time,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the members of Bangladesh Army are playing an important role in constructing shelter centres for the Rohingya people, distributing relief in a disciplined way and preparing identity cards for them.
Besides, she said, they demonstrated their efficiency in constructing roads and infrastructures in remote hilly areas as well as highways, bridges, flyovers in different parts of the country including Dhaka, and preparing voter list and machine readable passport.
The prime minister said Bangladesh Army was born through the great Liberation War in 1971. “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman framed a defence policy in 1974 to build a strong and trained army suitable for an independent country,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu took initiatives for establishing a world-standard military academy in Bangladesh alongside infrastructural development of different cantonments.
“He (Bangabandhu) inaugurated Bangladesh Military Academy in Comilla Cantonment in 1974,” she said.
The prime minister said her government has formulated the Forces Goal-2030 in the light of the farsighted defence policy of Bangabandhu. “We’ve increased the capability of Bangladesh Army to a great extent over the last nine years side by side with its infrastructural change,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government during 1996-2001 tenure established important institutions like the National Defence College, Military Institute of Science and Technology, Armed Forces Medical College, Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training and NCO’s Academy alongside new brigades, units and battalions.
During the period, she said, APC, ARV, battle tanks, armoured recovery vehicles, helicopters and other necessary equipment were purchased for raising the operational capacity of the army.
The prime minister said today’s army is completely different in infrastructural, and technological side than the army of one decade ago. “Today’s army is more developed, efficient and all-round in coordination of modern training and equipment,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has been working to turn Bangladesh Military Academy into a modern and international-standard one. Bangabandhu Complex has already been constructed with all sorts of modern indoor training facilities for the cadets, she said.
The prime minister also reiterated her determination to build Bangladesh as middle income country by 2021 and developed and prosperous one by 2041.
“Bangladesh is advancing and would move further … We want to advance keeping our head high, not begging to other,” she said. – BSS