Mentioning that the USA and many European countries were seeing a fresh surge in Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon all to be more cautious as the cold intensifies.
“Follow the health guidelines properly so that the coronavirus cannot affect your health,” she said.
The PM was addressing a programme virtually marking the course-completion parade of BGB 95th batch from the Gono Bhaban. The parade was held at BGB Training Centre and College in Satkania, Chattogram.
Hasina said her government has already taken all possible measures to face the possible second wave of the pandemic.
Funds have been allocated to procure Covid-19 vaccine to ensure vaccination of the people once it is ready, she added.
The PM asked the Border Guard Bangladesh to restrict smuggling alongside protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty.
“You have to love your country, its people and work for them,” she said.
She advised the BGB personnel to discharge their duties and responsibilities with the mentality of serving the country and the nation.
Mentioning that discipline is very important for any disciplined force, she urged BGB members to always keep it in mind.
The PM said the country has been liberated with an ideology in mind and all have to uphold it.
She asked the BGB members to obey the orders of their seniors while discharging duties without fear. Also, the border guards should work having sympathy for juniors, the PM added.
“All have to work so that the country can be developed further in future.”
Hasina asked the newly-recruited BGB personnel to carry out their duties drawing inspiration from the force’s four basic principles — morale, brotherhood, discipline and skill — with sincerity and honesty.
She said the Awami League government was continuing its efforts to establish BGB as an international standard and modern border force through its development and modernisation. “For that we have adopted the Border Guard Bangladesh Vision 2041.”
“Recently, we have turned BGB into a three-dimensional force. The BGB has attained the capacity to discharge its duties in water, land and air,” she said.
The premier said the government has adopted a plan to recruit 15,000 more manpower for the force in phases. Besides, ultramodern surveillance equipment, ATVs and modern APCs, helicopters, vehicle scanners and speedboats have been inducted as part of the smart border management, she added.
The PM recalled the heroic contributions of the members of BGB, the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in spreading the proclamation of Independence of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 25, 1971.
She renewed her pledge to give houses to every landless and homeless people by the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence alongside bringing all houses under electrification to build a prosperous and developed country free from hunger and poverty as envisioned by Bangabandhu.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Mostafa Kamal Uddin also spoke virtually at the programme from the home ministry.
BGB Director General Maj Gen Md Shafeenul Islam delivered the welcome speech.
The BGB chief, on behalf of the prime minister, handed various awards to the trainees for their outstanding performance during the training period.
