Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday directed the members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to safeguard the country's interest, dignity, borders, resources and every inch of the sacred soil with resilience and firmness.

"The sacred duty of protecting the country's long border has been entrusted upon BDR," she said while addressing the members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on the occasion of "Rifles Week 2005" at Peelkhana yesterday.

The PM referred to the importance laid on strengthening BDR by her government andinformed about the decision to raise four more new battalions of the force. She reminded that the government had founded two new battalions in 2002 and another twoin 2004.

Khaleda lauded the role of the paramilitary force in various important activities like maintenance of internal peace and discipline, facing of disaster and carrying out of relief activities apart from discharging a great responsibility of curbing smugglingin the borders.

She mentioned the seizure of smuggled goods worth Tk 284 crore in 2004 by BDR and appreciated their contributions to curbing illegal entry of people through the borders, and women and child trafficking.

She also appreciated the pressure taken by the BDR men in curbing cross-border crimes, including robbery and looting, and checking illegal carrying of arms and explosives along the border routes.

Reminding all about the rich history of BDR, its glorious role in the War of Liberation, Khaleda said the BDR jawans have set up rare examples through their courage, patience and self-sacrifice.

Earlier on arrival at the parade ground, the Prime Minister was received by State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar and Director General of BDR Maj Gen Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

Aboard an open jeep, She reviewed a smartly turned out parade of 16 contingents of the BDR led by Colonel Ibrahim Jamal.

She also took salute of the colourful parade that included the evolutionary changes of the BDR since the force was formed in 1795 by the British rulers as Ramgarh Local Battalion and then transformed into Frontier Guards in 1861, Bengal

Military Police in 1891, Eastern Frontier Rifles in 1920, East Pakistan Rifles in 1947 and the present Bangladesh Rifles in 1972.

Khaleda honoured the recipients of Bangladesh Rifles Padak and President's Rifles Padak -- Lt Col Hasinur Rahman BP, Habildar Abu Naser Mohammad Wahid Chowdhury and Sepoy Hajjaz Bin Yusuf.