Staff Correspondent

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said the armed forces have been recognised as a symbol of confidence by standing beside the people of the country.

“In recent anti-discrimination movement and post movement, the armed forces stood beside the people. By standing by the students and general people, the armed forces have been recognised again as a symbol of confidence to the people of the country,” he said.

The chief adviser made the remark while addressing the reception at Senakunja here, on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day.

Recalling the contribution of the armed forces, Prof Yunus said since the independence of the country, the armed forces has been working, standing by the people, in nation building and tackling disasters alongside protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty.

He said on this day in 1971, the members of the armed forces and commoners of Bangladesh jointly launched a coordinated attack against the Pakistani occupation forces.

So, he said, the 21 November is being observed as a milestone of the liberation war.

The chief adviser said the armed forces were born in the war of 1971, while the members of army, navy and air forces along with ordinary people carried out attacks on the Pakistani forces.

The armed forces provided guerrilla training to freedom fighters during the liberation war too, he added.

“On this special occasion, I deeply recalled the martyrs of the liberation war and all valiant freedom fighters, including the wounded ones,” he said.

The chief adviser also remembered all the martyrs and injured ones in the July-August revolution whose self-sacrifice created a new scope to rebuild the country, saying the nation will remember their sacrifice with respect forever.

Prof Yunus said in the last several months, the armed forces played a very laudable role in addressing natural disasters and maintaining the law and order.

He also commended the armed forces for its role in welfare-oriented activities, economic activities and infrastructural development.

The chief adviser hoped that by remaining loyal to democratic leadership, the armed forces would be active in serving the country.

Paying respect to family members of the martyred members of armed forces, he said Bangladesh is a peace-loving country and its main aim is to maintain coexistence with neighbours and other counties of the world.

“But we are always ready to protect our country from aggression or attacks of external enemies,” he said, adding that efforts are on to reorganise the armed forces, provide advanced trainings and introduce modern technology in the forces.

About Bangladesh’s contribution to global peacekeeping, Prof Yunus said Bangladeshi peacekeepers accomplished 63 United Nations missions in 43 countries, while at present the Bangladeshi peacekeepers have been deployed in 12 UN missions.

He said it is important to note that Bangladesh has been recognised now as one of the largest women-peacekeeper sending counties to the UN missions.

At the onset of his speech, Prof Yunus expressed his gratitude to former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for joining the reception of Armed Forces Day despite her physical illness.

The chief adviser also wished Khaleda Zia for her early recovery.