Armed forces attained people’s trust: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the armed forces of the country has gained people’s trust and confidence standing beside them during their any bad time.

“Our armed forces stand by the people in their any bad time and they have been able to gain people’s trust today,” she said.

The Premier made the remark while addressing the “Prime Minister’s Darbar” at the Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday (May 5).

Sheikh Hasina joined the Darbar after inaugurating the newly constructed multi-storied Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) Bhaban and Senaprangan (Army Central Auditorium) Bhaban in the Dhaka Cantonment by unveiling their name plaques at a ceremony.

The Premier said the people lost their trust and faith in the army after August 15, 1975.

“My effort was to restore people’s trust in our army,” she said.

She also mentioned that people’s faith is absolutely essential for army to protect independence and sovereignty of the country.

She suggested that an army that failed to earn people’s trust can never win any battle.

She said her government is implementing the “Forces Goal-2030” based on the Defense Policy formulated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1974 for the armed forces.

“By implementing the Forces Goal, we want our armed forces to be equipped with modern knowledge,” she added.

Referring to the Awami League’s manifesto pledging to build a digital Bangladesh in 2008 election, she said, “We’re working to develop our armed forces with modern technological knowledge in that way.”

The head of the government said the Bangladesh armed forces are widely acclaimed in the world for their outstanding contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping missions.

Now, her government’s target is to brighten the image of the armed forces further, she added.

The 14-storey AFIP Bhaban is equipped with the modern laboratory where the latest technology like next generation sequencing, automated microbial identification system, transmission electron microscope and multi-headed microscope were installed to ensure international standard services.

The army central auditorium, Senaprangan, has been constructed for organizing various national and international-level events like important meetings, seminars and social events.

The Prime Minister also planted a sapling (Chatiyan) on the premises of Army Central Auditorium.