Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says the Awami League will never use the armed forces of the country to grab power.
“We (in Awami League) believe in democracy. We had never used the armed forces to seize power… or orchestrated coups and murdered hundreds of armed forces personnel,” she said on Monday while addressing the Armed Forces Day reception.
The premiere also announced a new infantry division to be formed in the south-western district of Patuakhali.
On Nov 21, 1971, members of the army, navy and air forces launched coordinated attacks against the occupied Pakistan army that was defeated in a nine-month liberation war. Bangladesh commemorates the day as ‘National Armed Forces Day’.
Earlier in the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina paid homage to the members of the armed forces who died during the War of Independence.
They placed floral wreaths at the ‘Shikha Anirban’ memorial at the Dhaka Cantonment.
The reception in the afternoon was attended by former presidents, Cabinet members, government officials and representatives from the political parties, including their chiefs.
One conspicuous absence was BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who did not attend the event this year too.
The former prime minister has skipped the event at the Senakunja for the fourth year. The last time she attended was in 2012.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir represented the party with other senior leaders.
“She could not attend to due to illness,” Mirza Fakhrul told the media at the reception.
The prime minister was received by the chiefs of army, navy and air force as soon as she arrived at the Senakunja Hall.
Security Affairs Adviser to the PM Tarique Ahmed Siddique was also present.
In her address, the prime minister recalled the armed forces’ contribution to Bangladesh’s liberation and outlined her administration’s efforts to strengthen it.
She said the army will get a new infantry division in the south-western district of Patuakhali ‘very soon.’
The premier is scheduled to inaugurate a new infantry division and nine units in Sylhet on Dec 23.
On obtaining two new submarines from China, she said the government wants to build the Navy as a ‘multi-dimensional force.’
Hasina also mentioned adding F-7 BG fighter jets, helicopters to the air force’s fleet and ground-to-air missile systems.
Source: Bd news24