<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today made it clear that as an independent and sovereign country, Bangladesh will never bow down to any external interference.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We'll not bow down to interferences of anyone. It is our decision," she said while addressing a special Darbar (assembly) arranged at her office here, marking the 37th founding anniversary of the Special Security Force (SSF).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We're an independent nation. We've achieved our country through a war," said Sheikh Hasina, mentioning that Bangladesh is an independent and sovereign country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh is following the foreign policy, framed by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, "Friendship to all and malice towards none," she said her government has been working to make friendship with imperative ones and doing whatever necessary to develop the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said Bangladesh is progressing fast and will do further defying many obstacles and conspiracies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bangladesh faced obstacles and conspiracies time and again, but it has successfully overcome these, said the premier, adding, "So, still many obstacles and conspiracies continue. The reason is that when a country makes rapid progress, many may not tolerate it. So, they start making various disturbances."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"There is nothing to be unnerved with these (disturbance)," she said urging all the people of the country to move with self-confidence and self-esteem, keeping the heads high as an independent and victorious nation in the world stage.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah was also present.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">SSF Director General (DG) Major General Md Majibur Rahman, in his welcome speech, presented the different activities of the force.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the outset of the ceremony, a video documentary on SSF and its activities was screened.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the function, the Prime Minister unveiled the cover of a book titled " Durnitir Biruddye Bangabandhur Ukti" with 75 excerpts of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman compiled by SSF DG Major General Md Majibur Rahman.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On June 15 in 1986, the Presidential Security Force (PSF) was formed, which was later renamed as Special Security Force (SSF) in 1991 following the restoration of the parliamentary system of government in the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The force was originally intended to provide "physical security" both to the president wherever he may be and to VIPs, including any head of the state or government or any person declared to be a VIP by the government.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following the restoration of the parliamentary system, its primary function is to protect the President, the Prime Minister and other VIPs. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>