Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has said the country must remain prepared to defend itself from any external aggression. He made the remarks on Friday at a reception marking Armed Forces Day at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment.
At the beginning of his address, Dr. Yunus expressed sorrow over the casualties caused by the earthquake earlier in the day. He then paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War and those killed during the July 2024 uprising.
The Chief Adviser noted that, alongside safeguarding independence and sovereignty, the army has stood firmly with the people during the July uprising and the ongoing state reforms, honoring public trust. Bangladesh, he said, is a peace-loving nation that believes in dignified coexistence with friendly countries—but must stay fully prepared against any external threat.
Calling for collective efforts to ensure that the upcoming election becomes a celebration of democracy, Dr. Yunus emphasized the importance of the polls in the nation’s democratic transition. The Armed Forces, he said, would play a vital role in that process, which he described as Bangladesh’s journey into a new chapter.
Highlighting the need to strengthen and modernize the Armed Forces, he said that during the previous “fascist regime,” there was no progress in capacity-building. The interim government is working to address this, and recent steps have enhanced the country’s defense readiness.
He praised the contributions of Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed in 10 UN missions and noted that Bangladesh is among the leading contributors of female peacekeepers. Qatar’s decision to recruit personnel from Bangladesh, he said, reflects global recognition of the country’s professionalism.
Reflecting on November 21, 1971, the Chief Adviser said the coordinated attacks launched jointly by members of the armed forces, freedom fighters, and ordinary citizens accelerated the nation’s victory in the Liberation War.
He honored the extraordinary sacrifices of soldiers and civilians, which led to the emergence of an independent, sovereign Bangladesh. Dr. Yunus prayed for the martyrs and offered deep respect to decorated freedom fighters and their families present at the event. He also remembered those killed in the July 2024 uprising.
Calling the Liberation War the greatest chapter in the nation’s history, he recounted how Bangladeshi soldiers left cantonments beginning on March 25 and joined farmers, workers, students, and ordinary people in an all-out people’s war. Eventually, all fighting units were unified under “Bangladesh Forces,” and the country was divided into 11 sectors to conduct organized operations.
He noted the daring operations of the naval commandos—composed of defected sailors from the Pakistan Navy—who sank supply vessels in different ports under “Operation Jackpot,” and the “Kilo Flight” squadron, formed by air force personnel, which carried out successful missions in Chattogram, Narayanganj, and other key locations. These operations, he said, remain shining chapters in the country’s history.
Dr. Yunus urged the nation to seize the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh—one that advances technologically, economically, and socially alongside the developed world. He emphasized empowering the youth to contribute creatively despite limited resources. The sacrifices of the students and citizens during the July 2024 uprising, he said, have opened the door to building a brighter future.
“We remain committed to the martyrs, the wounded, and all who took part in the struggle,” he said, “so that we may use the opportunity they created to present Bangladesh to the world as a model of democratic transition.”