Bangladesh Armed Forces Day today
Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed :
Today (21 November) is Bangladesh Armed Forces Day 2023.
The members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces are making a unique contribution to the peace of the world in addition to serving the country.
Discipline and sincerity are the two important foundations of professional excellence and becoming an ideal soldier, the members of the Bangladesh Armed Forces know this very well.
Remembering the contribution of the armed forces in the liberation war, the three forces, Army-Navy-Air Force, observe the Armed Forces Day with due dignity.
If we recall the contribution of the armed forces in the liberation war, we can see that all seven national heroes are military personnel.
Many freedom fighter army officers are serving the country now in various fields even after retirement.
But currently, our armed forces are making a more important contribution to the establishment of global peace.
Bangladesh Armed Forces is a well-known and trusted institution in the present world.
This institution has been able to gain people’s love by establishing peace in the world’s war-torn and disastrous environment.
So on this day we honour all the members of the armed forces who have served and continue to serve the country in times of war and peace.
Bangladesh Armed Forces was formed on 21 November 1971 with the combination of Army, Navy and Air Force.
Responding to the call of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the brave soldiers of the army, navy and air force launched a joint attack against the Pakistani invaders to rid the country of the enemy.
A new dimension was added to the liberation war by the concerted and planned attack by the vast masses of Bengal and the Bengali members of the armed forces.
In 2017, in response to a question from a member of parliament, the law minister said that the total number of members of the armed forces is two lakh four thousand 596.
Among them, 1 lakh 62 thousand 125 are army personnel, 25 thousand 81 members of navy and 17 thousand 390 members of air force and about 21 thousand civilians are working in these three forces.
Among them, there are 13 thousand 408 civilians in the army, 3 thousand 800 in the navy and 3 thousand 686 in the air force.
The day is a very turning point in the context of the liberation war.
The independent and sovereign Bangladesh was created through the surrender of the Pakistani invading forces to the allied forces made up of Bangladeshi and Indian soldiers.
Since then Armed Forces Day is celebrated every year to commemorate the day. Earlier, the three forces celebrated the day differently, but since the mid-eighties, the day has been celebrated collectively through various events.
The glorious role of armed forces in the international world has honored Bangladesh.
Working in the United Nations peacekeeping mission not only brought back peace to those countries, but also brought revolutionary changes in the socio-economic field including rehabilitation.
For which international organizations including the United Nations have praised Bangladesh Armed Forces.
Many members have set a shining example of patriotism by performing the duties entrusted with their lives in maintaining the integrity of Bangladesh.
Elite force members of RAB continue to play an important role in countering terrorism and militancy.
Bangladesh is working tirelessly to protect the border under the leadership of the Border Guard.
Armed forces are still the name of people’s trust and confidence in any disaster, be it natural or man-made.
The armed forces members came to the front line in the rescue, relief operations and rehabilitation of people affected by cyclones and floods.
Bangladesh Armed Forces is a symbol of our pride and national unity.
As during the liberation war, it jumped to liberate the motherland, later in independent Bangladesh, it stood by the people many times during the crisis.
The highest number of Bangladeshi peacekeeping members is working with reputation in the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Army since 1988, Navy and Air Force in 1993, Police in 1989 become members of peacekeeping family.
Bangladeshi peacekeepers are working with great reputation in 54 of the 68 missions of the United Nations.
The role of peacekeeping members of Bangladesh in establishing peace and developing infrastructure in war-torn Cambodia, Somalia, Namibia, Congo, Uganda, Haiti, Kosovo, Georgia, East Timor, Tajikistan, etc. is very glorious.
The armed forces have gained the trust of the people by dealing with various social activities very successfully. One of his examples is working to ensure physical distance and quarantine at the field level during the pandemic corona situation.
The armed forces stood by the people on the orders of the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the covid-19 pandemic.
Former army chief General Aziz Ahmed gave 16-point instructions to win the Corona war. More than seven and a half thousand members of the patriotic army stood beside the people with instructions.
In coordination with the local administration, effective lockdown, relief assistance, free medical services, ensuring quarantine of foreign returnees, free medical services have played an important role in dealing with Corona.
Bangladesh Armed Forces have been performing the duties assigned to the country and the nation very efficiently along with professional duties.
The national voter list with photo, national identity card, machine readable passport have been made by them for which they received great praise at home and abroad.
In natural calamities, the armed forces have always been beside the affected people. The role of the armed forces during the devastating cyclone Sidr in 2007, Aila in 2009 and most recently Amphan has been appreciated by the people.
After the victory of Bangladesh, the activities of the Ministry of Defense started at the end of December 1971 at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The country’s first defense minister was the then prime minister, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu created a strong defense policy and armed forces.
The spirit of liberation war is active behind the celebration of Armed Forces Day. On this day, the contribution of various military forces in the liberation war is integrated with the sacrifice of the common people.
The writer is founder and chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society.
