Restrict Smuggling, Protect Independence: PM to BGB

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the Border Guard Bangladesh to restrict smuggling on Saturday, apart from protecting the independence and sovereignty of the country.

"You’ve to love your country, its people and work for people," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while virtually attending the BGB 95th batch completion parade from her official residence in Ganabhaban. The parade took place at the BGB Training Centre and the College in Satkania, Chattogram, reports UNB.

She asked the BGB personnel to carry out their duties and responsibilities by adopting a mentality of service towards the country and the nation. 

Mentioning that discipline is very important for any force, Sheikh Hasina said, "Always remember that discipline is most important for any [disciplined] force."

Hasina said the country has been liberated with an ideology in mind and all have to uphold that.

She asked the BGB personnel to carry out the orders of seniors and be fearless in discharging duties, and work having sympathy for juniors. "All have to work so that the country can be developed further in the future."

Hasina asked the newly-recruited BGB personnel to perform the basic four principles of the force -- morale, brotherhood, discipline and skill-- with sincerity and honesty.

She said the Awami League government is continuing its efforts to establish BGB as an international standard and modern border force through its development and modernisation. “For that we’ve adopted the Border Guard Bangladesh Vision 2041.”

"Recently, we’ve turned BGB as a three-dimensional force. BGB now attains its capacity to discharge its duties in water, land and air," she said.

She said the government has taken a decision to employ more than 15,000 workers in phases. In addition to state-of-the-art surveillance equipment for smart border control, ATVs and advanced APCs, helicopters, vehicle scanners and speedboats have been added, apart from the installation of new BOPs and BSPs.

Talking about the second wave of Covid-19, she encouraged everyone to be vigilant and obey the health recommendations to keep themselves safe from this deadly disease.

She reiterated that the government has made advance payments to get coronavirus vaccines to protect people from fatal diseases.

The Prime Minister remembered the valiant efforts of the BGB, the then East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), members of the Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman Proclamation of Independence on 25 March 1971 and in the Liberation War.

Home Secretary Asaduzzaman Khan and Senior Secretary of Public Security of Home Ministry Mostafa Kamal Uddin also talked virtually on the Home Ministry programme.

BGB General Director Major General Md Shafeenul Islam delivered a welcome speech.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, the BGB DG has awarded various awards to the trainees for their excellent performance during the training programme.