1971 spirit should be considered for promotion in army: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the spirit of the independence and Liberation War should be the basic and prime guiding principles for army while this should also be an issue of consideration for the officers promotion in service as well. 

Addressing Army Headquarters Selection Board-2016 at Dhaka Cantonment She said the military leadership should be delegated to officers who are patriotic and have faith in the spirit of our Great War of Liberation.

Sheikh Hasina, who is also in charge of the defense ministry, asked the selection board to take into consideration the officers leadership quality, professional competence, field level success, discipline, honesty and obedience for promotion.

The prime minister said members of the army during the tenure of the present government always stood beside it whenever it was necessary. For this reason, it's required to give leadership on the competent, efficient, able and patriotic officers, she said.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction over introducing 'TRACE' (Tabulated Record and Comparative Evaluation) system for officers' promotion the army. The system gives comparative evaluation of different aspects of professional competence, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said a disciplined and strong army can play a very pivotal role in strengthening and consolidating the democracy in a country. So leadership should remain in the hands of of the officers who are educated, able, conscious, intelligent and above all have determination to consolidate the democracy.

"You have to rise above every personal liking and disliking and judge everything impartially to pick up the patriotic officers," the prime minister said.

Noting that 'selecting right person fir right appointment', the prime minister said this policy very important for progress.

Pointing out the development of the Bangladesh Army after independence, the Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman within a very short span of time after independence turned the Bangladesh Army into a full-fledged force from a brigade. 

Bangabandhu had established Bangladesh Military Academy and other institutions apart from collecting technology, weapons, ammunitions and other military armours, she said military sector, like the civil sector, was highly neglected during the colonial rule of Pakistan.

For instance, the prime minister said, the then East Pakistan had no senior army officers with the rank of general, major general, brigadier and colonel during Pakistan era except two Lt. colonels, ten majors, seven naval officers and forty air force officers.

Sheikh Hasina said, "Bangladesh was born through a bloody war to live in peace and prosperity. So we don't want war. But, we should have prepared any threat of war."

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government carried forward the development and expansion programmes taken by Bangabandhu after coming to power in 1996 and it is still going on. Side by side steps were taken for welfare of the members of the army and their families.

Pointing out the country's situation following a number of terror attacks in the country, the Prime Minister urged the army officers and guardians to take care of their children. 

She underscored the need for expansion of the activities of 'Prayash', a school operated by Bangladesh Army for underprivileged children, for mental and physical development of the children.

PM's security advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Army chief General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, PM's principal secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lt. General M Mahfuzur Rahman and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present.

BSS