DHAKA, Jan 13, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought more participation of the armed forces in the overall development of the country.
“For the overall development of the country, we need more participation from the armed forces,” she said while exchanging views with officials and employees of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) at the Multipurpose Hall of the AFD at Dhaka Cantonment here this morning.
Sheikh Hasina exchanged views with them after attending her office at the AFD for the first time after her reelection as the premier.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
The prime minister mentioned that in the next five years, the aim of the government will be to complete all mega projects taken during the previous tenure.
She said that the poverty rate has declined to 21.8 percent in the country thanks to various pragmatic steps of her government. “We want to cut the rate by five percent more in the coming days … we want to put the country at a place from where there will be no scope to step back,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that for a country defence is very much important. In this connection, she referred to Bangladesh foreign policy — friendship to all and malice to none.
“We don’t want war, but we have to prepare ourselves so that we could protect the country if we are attacked,” she said.
Praising the role of Bangladeshi peacekeepers across the globe, she said that they have to be given modern, proper and time-befitting training before sending them to the UN peacekeeping missions.
The prime minister expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the people of the country for giving Awami League another chance to serve the country saying that power means a scope to serve the people.
Highlighting the country’s tremendous development that took place over the last 10 years, Sheikh Hasina said that the country witnessed this uplift due to the continuation of democracy.
“The center of the country’s development in the coming days will be the grassroots level,” she pointed out.
PM’s Security Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiq, Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nizamuddin Ahmad, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat were present, while Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman moderated the function.