<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government has taken measures to make armed forces more developed and global standard as they are the symbol of Bangladesh's sovereignty.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Armed forces are the symbol of our sovereignty---we have already taken measures to make the armed forces, formed at the hand of my father, more developed and international standard," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier was addressing as the chief guest a programme marking the 49th founding anniversary of the President Guard Regiment (PGR) at its headquarters inside Dhaka Cantonment here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said her government is transforming armed forces into a modern force with global standard arms, ammunition, vehicles and required equipment alongside giving proper training to its personnel at home and abroad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also said that she had built the National Defence College in 1998 for providing the armed forces personnel with modern and improved training after assuming office for the first time in 1996.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To this end, she said they built the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) in 1999.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The premier went on saying that they also built armed forces medical colleges alongside recruiting women to the forces for the first time in 2000.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She continued that they are implementing the Armed Forces Goal-2030 in line with the Defence Policy formulated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1974.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh believes in peace and its armed forces are contributing the most to the UN peacekeeping missions, she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Bangladeshi peacekeepers have won the hearts of the people of those countries where they work for establishing peace, she added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"So, I am really very proud of you," she continued.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister thanked the PGR personnel as they are ensuring security to her defying storm and rain risking their lives and prayed for their safety, security and wellbeing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I know my life is full of risks. They, who have come to secure my life, are also taking risks," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She added that the PGR personnel are performing their professional duties with honesty, dedication, dutifulness and professionalism.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Considering their risk in performing the duties, the premier said her government had introduced risk allowances for the PGR personnel in 1998.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She continued that her government had launched Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in the PGR alongside increasing its manpower to enhance its operational capability.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The PGR men were being imparted training at home and abroad to enhance their professional excellence, she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">PGR Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Khaled Kamal delivered the address of welcome at the function.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the event, the prime minister handed over the donation and gifts to the families of martyred PGR members who lost lives while performing their duties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">bnbd24/kh</div>