Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday hoped that the members of Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) will work for the development of the country maintaining their discipline strictly.

‘I always want this force (BGB) to maintain its discipline strictly and work for the development of the country,’ she said, reports the UNB.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day 2017 at its Peelkhana headquarters in the city.

Sheikh Hasina said the loyalty and trustworthiness among the BGB members are above all questions. ‘I believe that the mutual confidence, respect, discipline, humanity and above all mutual sympathy among the officers and members will strengthen the bonding of this force,’ she said.

The Prime Minister asked the BGB members to discharge their duties with patriotism, honesty and in a disciplined manner.

She also mentioned that BGB is the ‘resort of confidence’ for the nation when it comes to safeguarding the border, maintaining internal law and order and tackling manmade and social calamities.

She recalled the destructive politics and activities, including arson attacks by the BNP-Jamaat clique, during the last general election, and praised the BGB members for their extraordinary efforts to maintain the law-and-order situation in the country.

Describing the various development programmes taken by her government for the welfare of the BGB and its members, the PM said the government’s support and assistance will continue for the development of this force.

The Prime Minister said helicopters will be provided to the BGB soon for travelling to remote areas across the borders by its members and perform their duties.

Highlighting the glorious role of the then EPR members during the Liberation War in 1971, the Prime Minister said they had put up a strong resistance against the Pakistani forces in the early hours of the Liberation War responding to the call of Bangabandhu.

She said the EPR members were the first who had transmitted Bangabandhu’s proclamation of Independence across the country through their wireless system for which Subedar Major Showkat Ali along with his four colleagues were martyred.

Earlier, on her arrival at BGB headquarters, Home Minister Asaduzzaman khan and Director General of BGB Major General Abul Hossain Ahmed received the Prime Minister.

On the occasion, an attractive parade was arranged at Bir Uttam Anwar Hossain Parade Ground at the BGB headquarters. The Prime Minister inspected the parade and took salute.

Cabinet members, PM’s advisers, parliament members, the chiefs of the three services, diplomats and high civil and military officials were present.

The Prime Minister handed over BGB Medal (BGBM), President Border Guard Medal (PBGM), BGB Medal-Service (BGBMS) and PBGM-Service (PBGMS) to 51 BGB members for their courageous and brilliant contributions to various activities of the BGB.

The Prime Minister witnessed the attractive drills of the BGB during the parade.

A group of representatives led by Indian Border Security Force Director General Krishan Kumar Sharma and another group of representatives headed by police commander of Myanmar’s Border Guard Police Brigadier General Myint Toe witnessed the parade.

Later addressing the ‘Special Darbar’, the Prime Minister asked the BGB members to ensure the security of border and be vigilant so that no one can smuggle out the country’s wealth. ‘Also we’ve to make sure that the country’s wealth is used for national development,’ she said.

BGB Director General Major General Abul Hossain thanked the Prime Minister for the development of the force in overall areas during the tenure of the present government under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

Later, the Prime Minister replied to questions from two BGB members.

The BGB Director General then presented the prime minister a crest and a painting.

Before the Darbar, the Prime Minister cut a cake of the BGB Day-2017 and exchanged pleasantries with BGB members from BGP border posts.