Desk Report:
Tareque Rahman has instructed the members of the armed forces to be committed to upholding the country above party and opinion. He also called on them to uphold the sovereignty and dignity of the country’s constitution, maintain the trust of the people, and be inspired by patriotism through honesty and sacrifice.
He made these remarks while addressing the armed forces as the chief guest at the court of the armed forces at Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday (April 12, 2026) morning.
The Prime Minister said that the armed forces are not the property of any individual, family or party; they are a symbol of the strength and dignity of an independent state. Commitment to the constitution and the unwavering trust of the people should be the main foundation of the path of the forces. He also mentioned that protecting the independence and sovereignty of the country is the sacred responsibility of every member.
The Prime Minister mentioned that there have been attempts to weaken and make the army controversial at various times in the past and raised the issue of the Peelkhana massacre. She said that the army was damaged by that incident and later on, there have been attempts to make the army controversial through various activities.
Recalling Ziaur Rahman’s contribution to the modernization of the army, she said that it is important to maintain the patriotism and strong spirit of that time. She also commented that it is not possible to defeat Bangladesh if there is a united armed forces.
Describing Bangladesh’s participation in the UN peacekeeping mission as a major achievement, the Prime Minister said that the country’s armed forces have earned global recognition by playing an important role in the international arena.
She further said that the armed forces are not only a wartime force; they have also been playing an important role in dealing with natural disasters and establishing world peace. We need to build a force that the outside world respects and the people of the country trust.
The Prime Minister emphasized on not compromising on professionalism and urged the army to always maintain a high ideological position.
According to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, the ceremony was attended by Defense Advisor Brigadier General Dr. AKM Shamsul Islam (Retd.), Army Chief Waqar-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief M Nazmul Hasan and Air Chief Hasan Mahmud Khan, along with senior officers of the armed forces.
At the ceremony, the Prime Minister praised the professionalism, discipline and contribution of the forces to maintaining national security. She especially praised the role of the forces in controlling the law and order situation in the country after August 2024 and in successfully conducting the 13th National Parliament elections.
The Prime Minister assured the government of all-out cooperation to enhance the capacity of the armed forces, modernize them and ensure a more effective role in national development in the future.
Senior military and civilian officials stationed in Dhaka were present at the ceremony. In addition, members stationed in different parts of the country participated in it through video teleconference.
