RIYADH: The Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh marked Armed Forces Day on Tuesday to celebrate the nation’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and to remember those who died in the 1971 war of independence.
The reception was hosted at the embassy in the diplomatic quarter.
Bangladesh celebrates Armed Forces Day every year on Nov. 21 to mark the founding of its army, navy and air force during the 1971 war.
Major General Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Subaie from the Saudi Ministry of Defense was the chief guest, while ambassadors, defense attaches, diplomats from different missions and Saudi officials were at the reception, which was also attended by Bangladeshi expatriates.
Bangladesh Charge D’affaires Mohammed Abul Hasan Mridha and Defense Attache Brig. Gen. Muhammad Golam Faruque welcomed guests.
Faruque said that on Nov. 21, 1971, the combined forces of the Bangladesh army, navy and air force launched a concerted effort to put down the occupation army, achieving victory on Dec. 16, 1971.
Although Nov. 21 is marked as the founding day of the Bangladesh armed forces, the army, navy and air force began operations against the occupation forces from March 26, 1971.
Faruque said that he remembered the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the martyrs of the liberation war in 1971 with respect, and recalled the sacrifices of the fighters from the armed forces. He said that soon after independence, Rahman had adopted a defense policy and begun organizing the armed forces into a professional operation.
The defense attache said that Bangladesh was committed to promoting global peace and stability. Bangladesh armed forces have been taking part in UN peacekeeping operations since 1988, and have served in most of the world’s trouble spots.
Faruque recalled with gratitude the soldiers and officers who have died during peacekeeping operations under the UN mandate.
Nearly 7,000 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are serving in peacekeeping missions around the world, the embassy told Arab News. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has undertaken the “Forces Goal 2030” program for modernizing the armed forces.
Faruque highlighted the trust between the armed forces of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. He said that Bangladesh was a proud member of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.
The Kingdom’s ambitions, manifested in its Vision 2030, and those of Bangladesh, seen in its Vision 2041, were aligned and both nations had a tremendous opportunity for mutual cooperation and development in all fields including defense and security, Faruque said.
A documentary was screened at the Nov. 21 event on Bangladesh armed forces history, traditions, development works, peacekeeping activities and other social activities.
