Stand beside people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged members of the armed forces to work with the people for crafting a happy and prosperous Bangladesh with the spirit of the Liberation War. 
‘Bangladesh should be built with the spirit of the Liberation War. Members of the armed forces must work standing beside the people for their welfare and national uplift,’ she said while addressing another reception at Senakunja of Dhaka cantonment, marking Armed Forces Day.
The premier hoped that members of the armed forces would be able to uphold their dignity through their
service to protect the country and making contribution to national development.
‘Bangladesh Armed Forces, radiant with the ideals of the Liberation War, are our national pride. I hope for constant progress of the force so that they are acclaimed everywhere for their discipline, professional excellence and obedience to chain-of-command,’ she said. 
Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh Armed Forces has earned universal recognition for its honesty, sincerity, efficiency and multifaceted services for the welfare of the people.
The role of the armed forces in assisting the forcefully displaced people of Myanmar has also been lauded highly at home and abroad, she said.
PM’s security advisor Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique (retd) and chiefs of three services were present. 
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, acting chief justice Abdul Wahhab Miah, leader of the opposition Rowshan Ershad, chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda, cabinet members, leaders of different political parties and professional bodies, senior military officials and their spouses, diplomats and senior government officials joined the reception.
On this day during the Liberation War in 1971, the Bangladesh Armed Forces, comprising army, navy and air force, came into being and launched an all-out attack on the Pakistani occupation forces.
After independence of the country, this historic day is being observed as Armed Forces Day every year.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday announced that the 1971 war veterans would get allowance from January next.
‘We’ve decided to provide allowance from January 2018 to those who fought for the country’s independence from different forces, including the armed forces, police, Ansar-VDP and Border Guard Bangladesh (formerly known as East Pakistan Rifles),’ she told a reception arranged marking Armed Forces Day 2017.
The prime minister accorded the reception to gallantry award-recipients freedom fighters and their successors at Army Multipurpose Hall at Dhaka cantonment in the morning.
Principal staff officer of armed forces division Lieutenant General Md Mahfuzur Rahman delivered the welcome speech at the function.
Liberation War affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque, PM’s security advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiq, chief of army staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque, chief of naval staff Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmad and chief of air staff Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar and high civil and military officials were present.
At the reception, Sheikh Hasina presented honorarium cheques, and gifts including mobile phones and tabs to the successors of seven Birshreshthos as well as other gallantry-award recipients.
The prime minister also handed over ‘Shantikalin Padak’ (peacetime medals) to 12 armed forces members and ‘Osamanya Seba Padak’ (outstanding service medals) among 14 armed forces officers in recognition to their heroic role during the war and peacetime. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net