<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that her government has taken adequate steps for overall development of the armed forces to safeguard the country’s independence and sovereignty, but it has no intention to lock into war with anyone.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Actually, we don’t want to get into war against anyone. Our eye is on to safeguard our Independence and sovereignty,” she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister said this while commissioning naval base BNS Sher-e-Bangla and eight ships, including four Landing Craft Utility (LCU)s, at Kolapara in Patuakhali. She joined the programme virtually from Ganobhaban, her official residence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ships were built at Khulna Shipyard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said that the government has taken steps to develop the armed forces including the navy so they attain international level skill.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this connection, PM Hasina said that apart from procurement of helicopters, equipment besides construction of several warships is underway to strengthen surveillance and security at sea.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal also spoke at the programme.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">A documentary on naval base Sher-e-Bangladesh and eight ships wer screened at the programme.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Earlier, the navy chief handed over command to the respective cmmanders of the base and the ships. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">bnbd24/kh</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div>