<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday issued separate messages, greeting members of the armed forces on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day to be celebrated in the country on Monday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In his message, the President recalled the memories of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under whose leadership Bangladesh achieved final victory on December 16, 1971 following a nine-month-long armed Liberation War.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He also recalled the memories of 1971 martyrs, particularly the seven recipients of the highest gallantry awards "Bir Shreshtha", and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed deep sympathy to the injured freedom fighter military officials and the family members of the martyred members of the armed forces.</div><div><br></div><div>President Hamid, also the supreme commander of the armed forces, said, "The armed forces, born through the Great War of Liberation, are the symbol of confidence and pride of the nation".&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The members of the armed forces are playing a pivotal role in various national activities, including facing national disasters in aid of the civil administration, along with safeguarding the independence and sovereignty of the country, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Even members of the armed forces have also brightened the country's image before the world through participating in the peacekeeping missions of the United Nations and performing their responsibility with utmost sincerity, honesty, discipline and professional expertise, the President said.</div><div><br></div><div>During the coronavirus pandemic, he said, members of the armed forces played laudable and active roles in preventing the viral infection by engaging themselves in the field.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdul Hamid said that the government has formulated the 'Forces Goal-2030' aiming to modernize the armed forces. "Under the plan, modern military equipments are being included for the forces that will undoubtedly make the armed forces more modern, efficient and dynamic," he added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Recalling the glorious founding day of the armed forces, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said members of the army, navy and air force had retaliated against the occupation forces on November 21 in 1971 during the Liberation War conducted under the leadership of the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>The freedom fighters, members of different paramilitary forces and the patriotic people had carried out an integrated attack jointly and compelled the occupation forces to surrender, she said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>"We achieved the final victory on December 16 in 1971 after defeating the occupation forces. And the 'Armed Forces Day' is being observed every year on November 21 as a landmark of the victory and success of the Bangalee nation in the great Liberation War," the premier said.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had started building the modern and smart armed-forces after the Liberation War, Sheikh Hasina said, "For Bangladesh Army, Bangabandhu established Military Academy, Combined Armed School and training schools for every corps and more military institutions and formed different units".&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He (Bangabandhu) inaugurated the Isha Khan Base for Bangladesh Navy in Chattogram, the premier said, adding "Bangabandhu procured two navy ships from Yugoslavia at his own initiatives. He also collected Supersonic Mig-21 fighter jet, helicopter, passenger plane and radar from the then Soviet Union".&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Since assuming the office in 2009, the Awami League (AL)-led government has been working relentlessly to modernize the armed forces, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the defence policy formulated in 1974 at the directive of by Father of the Nation for an independent and sovereign country, 'Forces Goal 2030' has been formulated, the PM said, adding the modernization of the three services is being implemented gradually under the policy.</div><div><br></div><div>She hoped that being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War, the members of the armed forces will be discharging their respective duties sincerely with patriotism, professionalism and higher moral ideology.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>"With the collective efforts of all, we will be able to build a hunger-poverty-free and happy-prosperous 'Sonar Bangladesh' as dreamt by Bangabandhu, Insha-Allah," Sheikh Hasina said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister wished success of all the programmes taken on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day-2022. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>