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Work shoulder to shoulder with people to protect sovereignty

PM urges armed forces

UNB, Chittagong
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the armed forces to work shoulder to shoulder with the people to safeguard die country's inde-
pendence and sovereignty and for overall national development.
She made the call while addressing the President's Parade at Bangladesh Military Academy at Bhatiary in die port
city of Chittagong and set forth die plans and programmes of her government in the new milieu.
Pointing to die new officers, Hasina said: "You have been reposed upon the sacred
responsibility of protecting the country's great independence and sovereignty."
Cadets, midshipmen and flight cadets of 61st BMA long course, 32nd BMA special course, 2008 Alpha batch (midshipmen) and 60th flight cadet course from Bangladesh, Palestine and the Maldives attended their courseconcluding parade to take up their career as military officers of respective countries.
A total of 125 cadets, 32 midshipmen and 23 flight cadets were commissioned to the three services of the armed forces. Besides, five cadets and five midshipmen of Palestine and one midshipman of the Maldives were also commissioned at the function.Of them, 24 are female cadets taking up the challenging career that involves war and peace.
Audio version of the speech given by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the concluding ceremony of the 1st BMA batch on January 11,1975 was played before the newofficers.
On her arrival at the parade ground, the PM, who also holds the defence portfolio, was
received by die chiefs of the three services.
Standingon an open jeep, she visited die parade of the smartly tumed-out contingent of the newofficers of three services and also took salute of the newly commissioned officers.
Ministers, lawmakers and high civil and military officials were present at the passing-out parade functions.
Battalion Senior Under Officer Shafiur Rahman was adjudged best all-round cadet in the 61 st BMA long course and awarded sword of honour.
Midshipman Md Abdullah Al Momin of Midshipmen Batch 2008 was awarded the sword of honour for his best performance among the naval cadets while flight cadet Sergeant Md Saiful Monir got the sword of honour for his feat among the flight cadets.
“Today, at this good moment, my mind recalls my younger brother Shaheed Lt Sheikh Jamal who once got commission from this army. Another brother of mine, Sheikh Kamal, also fought the liberation war with valour as an officer of the Bangladesh Army. You are my brothers, sisters and members of my
family."
She said like the previous Awami league governments, this time also, various steps would be taken to enhance the armed forces' skills and volume to build up a modern and developed force capable of facing the challenges of the present era.
Mentioning the glorious performance of Bangladeshi security personnel working on the UN Peacekeeping Mission, Hasina urged the newofficers to hold high the present goodwill and go ahead.
She told them to keep it in mind always that armed forces' members are an inseparable part of the patriotic people.
She quoted from die speech of Bangabandhu delivered at the BMA in 1975. He had said: "1 want to see a golden Bangla. I want to bring smile to the poor. I want to see further that the distressed people are getting their full meals, they have clothes, all oppression and injusticeshave come to an end."
Hasina said the father of the nation's dream has now come true. "Today I can say with pride that military academies are the symbol of our national dignity.”