Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Msterduy said not a single soldier had been killed or had lost his Job during the Awa ml League rule under Father ol the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. re|>orts BSS.
"There had not been a single incident that a mother lost his soldier son and no walling heard from the army headquarters while Bangabandhu was in power." she said at the flag raising ceremony of the 98th Composite Brigade adjacent to the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge last morning.
The new brigade, first of its kind in the country, having an Infantry battalion, an air defence and artillery regiment and a riverine engineering battalion will protect and ensure 'the safety and security of the Bangabandhu Bridge.
Sheikh Hasina described the deployment of the brigade as a milestone In her government’s efforts to expand and develop the Armed Forces. She reiterated her government's endeavours to develop the standard of the Armed Forces and raise the efficiency of its members.
The prime minister said under the directives of Bangabandhu. people from all walks of life Including the Bangalee members of the Armed Forces. BDR and police fought the Liberation War and earned independence. She said the Liberation War Is the brightest achievement In the history of the Bangalee nation.
Sheikh Hasina said the Bangabandhu laid the foundation of the Armed Forces In independent Bangladesh and took all steps to build a strong and efficient Armed Forces. She said despite resource constraints. Bangabandhu took revolutionary steps. He established the Bangladesh Mllitarv Academy on March 11. 1974 to provide basic training to the army personnel. She said Bangabandhu also procured modern warships and aircraft to strengthen the army.
The prime minister said al
ter the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu. the army was used to serve party interest while hundreds of officers and soldiers were hanged through mock trials and hundreds of them lost Job without any reason.
Listing various steps to develop the army as a modern force, the prime minister said the government established National Defence College for higher military training. She said the activities of the Army War College’ will start from 2001.
She also said the government had undertaken measures to set up a composite brigade with a support battalion, an engineering construction battalion. a field ambulance and a riverine engineering battalion.
She said: The Armed Forces has already enhanced the image of the country by their service in various peace keeping missions of the United Nations."
She said Bangladesh was oc cupying the second position in the UN peace keeping missions.
"Two more battalions will soon Join the UN peace keeping mission, taking Bangladesh's position to number one." she added
She said that an engineers’ construction battalion was formed to build the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf marine drive and construct the roads of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
The prime minister said the Army Trust Bank was established for the welfare of the members of the Armed Forces. She said the bank would also provide services to the member of the public, offering a bridge between the army and the people.
Sheikh Hasina said her government approved a new DUHS In the Mirpur area to build private houses for the officers of the Armed Forces and 74 acres were allocated for the purpose.
The prime minister also lauded the role of the Armed Forces in the service of the distressed humanity during natural calamities lake floods, tidal waves and cyclones.
"The members of the army are also building shelters for the distressed people. So far. 16,330 families have got shelter in those houses." she said.
The prime minister Illustrated various development programmes of her government. saying those were alined to the welfare of the people. She expressed the hope that Bangladesh would emerge as a developed and prestigious nation by the year 2020.
Members of Parliament, chiefs of three services and high civil and military officials attended the function.
Earlier, on her arrival at the 98th Brigade headquarters, the prime minister was given a guard of honour. She inspected the guard and took the salute.