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I will work till death for the betterment of our Freedom Fighters: PM Sheikh Hasina


PM Sheikh Hasina hands over cheque for Taka 15 lakh to freedom fighter Kakon Bibi
 
December 25,2009
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said she would work till her death for the welfare of the country's millions of freedom fighters, who fought for the cause of their motherland during the country's War of Liberation. "As a daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, it is my sacred duty to work for the welfare of the freedom fighters who gave us an independent Bangladesh," she said. The Prime Minister said this while handing over a cheque for Taka 15 lakh to indigenous women freedom fighter Kakat Heninchita alias Kakon Bibi at her office yesterday evening. Janata Bank gave the amount to the valiant women freedom fighter Kakon Bibi. Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had formed the Muktijodhya Kallayan Trust in the war-ravaged Bangladesh for the welfare of the millions of freedom fighters. He (Bangabandhu) even provided them financial support in the war-ravaged country when there were no reserves in the banks, she added. The Prime Minister said Bangabandhu had also constituted Women Development Board for the welfare of the women, who were oppressed during the country's War of Liberation. But, she regretted, that the post-Bangabandhu governments destroyed the Muktijodhya Kallayan Trust and also made the list of the freedom fighters questionable. Sheikh Hasina said her previous government after assuming office prepared a fresh list of genuine freedom fighters. "I signed each of the certificates of hundreds of freedom fighters as I believe that signing of the certificates is a great honour to me", she said. In this connection, she said, the last BNP-Jamaat led government again cancelled the list. "Now we are trying to revive the list of the actual freedom fighters", she added.
Referring to her government initiatives for the welfare of the freedom fighters, she said her government has increased allowances of freedom fighters and provided wheel chairs to the wounded ones. The Prime Minister thanked the Janata Bank for providing the support to freedom fighter Kakon Bibi and urged all concerned to come forward with more support for the valiant sons of the soil in future.
 
Kakon Bibi became emotional while receiving the cheque and expressed her gratitude to the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the bank authorities for providing her the support.
 
Parliament member Waresat Hossain Belal, Cabinet Secretary M A Aziz, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister M A Karim, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Chairman of Janata Bank Dr Abul Barakat and members of board of directors of the bank were present on the occasion.

Work with people for safeguarding & developing the state, Sheikh Hasina urges armed forces


December 24,2009

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the armed forces to work shoulder to shoulder with the people to safeguard country’s independence and sovereignty and for overall national development. She made the call while addressing the President Parade at Bangladesh Military Academy at Vatiary in the port city Thursday and set forth the plans and programmes of her government in the new milieu. Sheikh Hasina told the new officers that with the commission they achieved today they have been given a significant responsibility. “You have been reposed upon the sacred responsibility of protecting the country’s great independence and sovereignty.” “You always have to remain ready for discharging the duty towards the nation. The female officers also have to face the challenges equally. Protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty will be the first and foremost duty of yours, even shedding the last drop of blood,” the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister, who lost two of her brothers while in service in 1975, in her speech called the armed forces’ members her brothers and sisters. “Today, at this good moment, my mind recalls my younger brother Shaheed Ltn. Sheikh Jamal who once got commission from this army. Another brother of mine, Sheikh Kamal, also fought the liberation war with valor as an officer of the Bangladesh Army. You are my brothers, sisters and members of my family,” she said. She said like the previous Awami League governments, this time also, various steps would be taken to enhance the armed forces’ skills and volume to build up a modern and developed force capable of facing the challenges of the present era. The Prime Minister noted that Bangladeshi in the global arena, at present, is known as a promising, development-oriented and peaceful country as it has already been successful in attaining a respectable place in various regional and international forums. Mentioning glorious performance of Bangladeshi security personnel working on the UN Peacekeeping Mission, Sheikh Hasina urged the new officers to hold high the present goodwill and go ahead. She told them to keep it in mind always that armed forces’ members are an inseparable part of the country’s patriotic people. “Our armed forces have always been sympathetic towards people during all natural disasters and national crises. The assistance provided by the armed forces to the civil administration is also bright,” she said in her word of praise for the humanitarian service of the military.

Formulation of national identity cards and voter list with photos by the army-men was widely lauded at home and abroad. The Prime Minister further appreciated the armed force’s contribution to implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Treaty signed in 1997 during the previous Awami League government. The Prime Minister wished every cadet a happy, prosperous and glorious future. She quoted from the speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered at the BMA in 1975. Bangabandhu had said:
 
‘I want to see a golden Bangla. I want to bring smile to the poor. I want to see further that the distressed people are getting their full meals, they have clothes, all oppressions and injustices have come to an end.’ Bangabandhu also had said: I hope, inshallah, this BMA will achieve goodwill not only in Southeast Asia but also in the whole of the world. Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation’s dream now has come to true. “Today I can say with pride that military academies are the symbol of our national dignity.” Congratulating the foreign cadets, she said she is confident that all of them would derive optimum benefit out of their basic military training from this academy.
 
The PM told the Palestinian cadets that their joining in this academy reflects that Bangladesh and the State of Palestine enjoy and maintain very warm and harmonious bilateral relations. “
 
I am quite optimistic that the relations between our two friendly countries will be further strengthened in the days to come.” Cadets, Midshipmen and flight cadets of 61st BMA long course, 32nd BMA special course, 2008 Alpha batch (midshipman) and 60th flight-cadet course from Bangladesh, Palestine and the Maldives attended their course-concluding parade to take up their career as military officers of respective countries. A total of 125 cadets, 32 midshipmen and 23 flight cadets were commissioned to the three services of the Bangladesh Armed forces
 
Besides, 5 cadets and 5 midshipmen of Palestine and one midshipman of the Maldives also commissioned at the function. Among them, 24 are female cadets taking up the challenging career that involves war and peace.
Audio version of the speech given by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the concluding ceremony of the 1st BMA batch on January 11, 1975 was played before the new officers.
 
On her arrival at the Parade ground, the Prime Minister, who also holds the defense portfolio, was received by the chiefs of the three services.
 
Standing on an open jeep, the Prime Minister visited the parade of the smartly turned-out contingent of the new officers of three services and also took salute of the newly commissioned officers.
 
Later, the Prime Minister signed in the visitors’ book of the military academy. Ministers, MPs, high civil and military officials were among others present at the passing-out parade functions. Battalion Senior Under Officer Shafiur Rahman was adjudged best all-round cadet in the 61st BMA long course and awarded sword of honor.
 
Midshipmen Md Abdullah Al Momin of Midshipmen Batch 2008 was awarded with the sword of honor for his best performance among the naval cadets while flight- cadet Sergeant Md Saiful Monir got the sword of honor for his feat among the flight cadets.