Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the members of Bangladesh Army to keep a "constant vigil" to face any internal and external threats for safeguarding the country's constitution and sovereignty, reports BSS.
"You'll have to always remain ready to face any internal or external threats unitedly for protecting the sacred constitution and sovereignty of the motherland," she said on Sunday while inaugurating 27 projects at different cantonments.
Hasina launched the schemes through a videoconference during a ceremony at Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday.
The projects included a cancer centre at Dhaka Cantonment, fertility centre, edible oil mill, various establishments of training and housing facilities for the army members.
"Bangladesh Army is our asset and a symbol of confidence and trust of the people...so, you will have to be more professionally-efficient and welfare- minded consisting of social and religious values," she said the ceremony.
The prime minister said she hopes the army to work with utmost sincerity in accomplishing their duty by keeping confidence in their leadership and maintaining mutual trust, sympathy, sense of brotherhood and responsibility, dutifulness and discipline.
The premier said her government always aims to serve the people, not to rule them.
"We've got your constant cooperation to serve the people," she said, expressing her firm belief that the army will stand beside the people whenever it will be necessary.
Hasina said she has a strong family bond with Bangladesh Army as her two brothers—Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Jamal who were killed in the 1975 assassination— served as officers.
"My youngest brother Sheikh Russell also wanted to join the army," she said in an emotion charged voice.
"As I'm a member of that family, I believe it's my responsibility to build an army suitable to independent and sovereign Bangladesh," she said.
Hasina recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman framed the defence policy in 1974 by realizing the necessity of a developed and professional army.
Upon his instruction, she said, the Bangladesh Military Academy was established in Cumilla in 1974 as well as other establishments including the Combined Arms School and training centre for every corp.
The premier said in the light of Bangabandhu's far-reaching defence policy, a process for modernisation of the army is underway side by side with rearranging and changing its organisational structure.
As a result, she said, the army has reached a dignified position at home and abroad. "You'll have to uphold your reputation of which guidelines were given by Bangabandhu," she said.
Pointing out that the present government believes in development, expansion and modernisation of the army, the prime minister said the government has taken all necessary effective measures keeping this goal ahead. "The National Defence Policy was approved by the cabinet," she said.