BANGLADESH

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said the country's army is being modernised in line with the technological advancement.

"It's the era of science and technology. The government has taken many steps to modernise Bangladesh Army in line with the technological development," she said on Wednesday.

The prime minister was addressing an army parade at Syedpur Cantonment in Nilphamari district on the occasion of the national standard award-giving ceremony to Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) Centre and School of Bangladesh Army, and the fourth reunion and annual conference of the EME Corps Commanders.

She said around 1,400 Bengali members of the EME Corps joined the Liberation War in 1971 at the call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 162 of them sacrificed their lives to liberate the country.

Hasina said seven members of the EME Corps were given various gallantry awards for their roles in the war.

She mentioned that Military Institute of Science and Technology, Armed Forces Medical College and Armed Forces Nursing Institute were established during her government.

Hasina also referred to her government's initiatives to resolve the accommodation problems of the army personnel.

Earlier, she reached Syedpur airport onboard a special aircraft of Bangladesh Airlines around 9:30 am.

Former president and chairman of Jatiya Party Hussain Muhammad Ershad, state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku, local parliament members and chief of the three services were present at the parade.