Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Bangladesh has attained all capabilities to protect its independence and sovereignty if it is attacked by any external aggressor and enemy. “We believe in peace, the Father of the Nation has given us the foreign policy ‘Friendship to all, malice to none’, we believe in that foreign policy, but if we’re attacked by enemies from outside, we’ve attained our capabilities to protect our independence and sovereignty,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing the President Parade 2021 of the 81st BMA Long Course at Bangladesh Military Academy at Bhatiari in Chattogram, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. She asked the new cadets to devote themselves towards protecting the independence and sovereignty of the country as their prime task, if needed the highest sacrifice. Extending her best wishes and greetings to all the new officers on this auspicious occasion of passing out, she said by taking oath today they are entrusted with the sacred duty of defending the great independence and sovereignty of the motherland.  "You’ve to remain alert and ready always to fulfil this responsibility. You’ll have to remain beside the people of the country… you’ll have to perform your duties to meet all the necessities of people and share happiness and sorrows equally,” she said. The Prime Minister asked them to uphold the spirit of the independence and put it above everything as this independence has come in lieu of the blood of millions of martyrs. “You’ve to inspire yourselves and instil the spirit of independence in you.” READ: Bangladesh getting ready to tap 4IR opportunities: PM  Mentioning that ''Bangabandhu Complex'' has been constructed at the BMA with all kinds of sophisticated facilities for internal training of cadets, she said: "I hope that this modern training system will play a pivotal role in building a trained and modern army." Hasina also noted that today's BMA is a successful embodiment of the military academy that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of providing advanced training and developing capable leadership. Describing various development programmes for Bangladesh Army, she said the government has established new infantry divisions, brigades, units and training institutes in the Bangladesh Army alongside taking necessary steps for its overall development.  The Prime Minister said three new infantry divisions and the first para-commando brigade have been formed in the army while sophisticated armoured vehicles and other equipment, such as state-of-the-art engineering and signalling equipment, various weapons, helicopters, aircraft, modern infantry gazettes and various other weapons have been incorporated into the army. READ: PM Hasina for forging strong worker-owner relations to boost productivity Hasina said the physical infrastructures required for the new weapons and equipment have been installed and built while work is underway to incorporate and expand a variety of weapons and equipment. At the function, Battalion Senior Under Officer of the 81st BMA Long Course Abdullah Al Islam received the “Sword of Honour” as the best all-around cadet and Company junior under officer Imrul Kayes got the “Army Chief Gold Medal” for his best performance in military subjects. On behalf of the Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed handed over both the “Sword of Honour” to Abdullah Al Islam and the “Army Chief Gold Medal” to Imrul Kayes. Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed Also spoke at the programme.

Denouncing the recent Israeli attacks, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that Bangladesh is always with the Palestinian people and will continue to extend all sorts of assistance to them. "We’re always with Palestinian people. We did extend all sorts of assistance to them in the past, and are doing so today and will surely do that in the future," Hasina said. The Prime Minister said this when she took part in the discussion on a condolence motion in the House. Also read: Hasina a household name in Palestine: Envoy Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House in the beginning of the Budget Session of the 11th Parliament, aiming to express profound grief at the death of two sitting MPs Abdul Matin Khasru and Aslamul Haque, one former minister, 11 ex-MPs, some noted dignitaries and those who lost lives to Coronavirus both at home and abroad, and in two recent waterway accidents in the country, and the latest Israelis attacks on Palestine and the cyclone Yaas. The Prime Minister strongly condemned the cruel attacks carried out by Israel. "What happened in Palestine is extremely inhumane. Children were crying and roaming around there, losing their parents. It can't be tolerated," she said. It is truly sad that the young children were injured and subjected to torture while they lost their parents, Hasina said adding that Israel carried out the attacks on Palestine. Also read: Bangladesh urges UN to take decisive action against Israel’s violation of Palestinian rights Coming down heavily on international organisations, Hasina said those who always talk about humanity they are now silent. The Prime Minister sought the salvation of departed souls of those who were killed in the Israeli attacks.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the achievement of Awami League through its sacrifice and endurance is the Liberation of Bangladesh.