The 47thAnniversary of the Armed Forces Day of Bangladesh was celebrated in Islamabad, Pakistan with festivity and due solemnity.
Defence Wing of the Bangladesh High Commission organized a reception to mark the day at Hotel Serena in the evening on 21 November 2018. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development SayedZulfiqar AbbasBukhari attended the reception as the Chief Guest.
In his welcome address, Defence Advisor of Bangladesh High Commission Brigadier General KhondakerShafiur Rahman apprised the guests of the significance of the Day. He said that, on this day, during the War of Liberation, Armed Forces of Bangladesh was formally organized through a coordinated operation of the three Forces. Remembering the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with profound respect and honour, he said that the expansion and modernization of Bangladesh Armed Forces envisioned by Bangabandhu have been continuing under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her tenures. During the last couple of years, Bangladesh Armed Forces have undergone huge quantitative and qualitative advancement and have turned into a symbol of dependence for the people of Bangladesh and a contributor to establishing peace across the world, he added
High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan, in his speech,offered profound homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who led the Bengali nation on its path to independence and took important steps to develop the Armed Forces of the newly-independent Bangladesh. He paid his sincere tribute to all those fallen heroes of Bangladesh who made supreme sacrifice during our War of Liberation. High Commissioner said that Bangladesh Armed Forces had begun as a guerilla force of high morale with unfathomable patriotism, revolutionary zeal and unflinching determination to liberate the subjugated motherland. That same spirit permeates the Forces even today to serve the independent motherland, he added. Tarik Ahsan said, Bangladesh sincerely pursues its foreign-policy motto of ‘friendship to all and malice toward none’. However, her Armed Forces remain ever vigilant to defend the sovereignty and integrity of the country against any aggression. He said,Bangladesh Armed Forces have been engaged in nation-building activities as well as in the UN Peace Keeping Operations and, through their professionalism and efficiency, have earned the trust and confidence of the people throughout the globe.
Chief Guest SayedZulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, in his speech, praised Bangladesh’s achievements in economic development and progress in different sectors including human resources. He stressed the need of enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan,and sharing experiences in the endeavor for development.
Following the speeches, a beautifully decorated Armed Forces Day cake was cut jointly by the Chief Guest,Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, High Commissioner of Bangladesh, High Commissioners and Ambassadors of SAARC countries and Iran, and Defence Advisor of Bangladesh.
Quite a number of Ambassadors, High Commissioners, former Federal Minister SayedWajidHussainBukhari, Defence Advisors of different missions in Islamabad, civil and military officials, local dignitaries, members of Bangladesh community and officials of Bangladesh High Commission attended the reception.