Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday expressed her firm determination to keep up the pace of development, saying that she considers the premiership as a scope to serve the people.

‘Running the state and the post of prime minister are not valuable to me, rather it’s a big opportunity for ensuring welfare of the people and changing their lot,’ she told a

reception on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day-2018, reports the BSS.

Sheikh Hasina added: ‘I’m making strides to serve the people and advance the country further … Bangladesh will surely advance Insha Allah.’

The prime minister accorded the reception to the successors of Birshreshthos, and the gallantry award-recipient freedom fighters of the armed forces at the Army Multipurpose Complex at Dhaka Cantonment this morning.

Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman delivered the welcome address at the function.

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, PM’s Security Advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddiq, Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff

Admiral Nizamuddin Ahmed and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat and high civil and military officials were present.

As many as 101 gallantry-award recipient freedom fighters and their heirs including close relatives of seven Birshreshthos joined the function.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is now a role model of development in the world and it has earned the UN recognition of a developing country. ‘We achieved this honour through liberating the country and many nations of the world now want to follow Bangladesh,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is marching towards development and the aim of her government is to keep up the pace of uplift.

‘We will be able to achieve the goal, and crossing many hurdles we started our journey towards advancement and none could halt it Insha Allah,’ she asserted.

The premier said Bangladesh is now an independent country and it (independence) was earned in exchange for blood of millions of martyrs.

‘Bangladesh is now an independent country which will never fail … we want to reach fruits of independence in every house and we want the people of the country will no more suffer from poverty and hunger,’ she said.

Quoting Bangabandhu’s historic March 7 speech, Sheikh Hasina said: ‘None will be able to suppress Bangladesh … it’s advancing and will move ahead further.’