Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her desire to manufacture fighter jets in Bangladesh in future.

The premier said this while addressing a program of Bangladesh Air Force held at Air Base Birsreshtha Matiur Rahman in Jashore on Tuesday. 

She joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban and handed over the National Standard to 11 Squadron and 21 Squadron of Bangladesh Air Force.

Sheikh Hasina said: "We’re building the Air Force to make it competitive, and we’ve a desire to build fighter jets in Bangladesh. We’re taking preparations to protect our air border with our own [strength]."

She said the government has taken steps to protect the country's sovereignty and take the country some steps ahead in defending it. "I believe we’ll be able to get success in this regard, Inshallah."

The prime minister mentioned about the 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University' and aeronautical centre where the research works would be done effectively.

Hasina said protecting the dignity of the national flag is the sacred duty of all the armed forces personnel. "We attained the national flag in lieu of the blood of millions of martyrs. This flag is the symbol of our independence, honour and dignity. It’s the sacred duty of all members of the armed forces to protect the dignity of the flag."

Recalling the efforts of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build the Air Force after the independence of the country, she said the Father of the Nation in 1974 formulated Defence Policy for Bangladesh.

"Following that footsteps, we’ve formulated Forces Goal 2030 to make our armed forces a time-befitting and modern one, and we’ve started implementing that," she said.

Hasina also briefly described the induction of various modern and technology-based equipment in the Air Force.

As the country is celebrating Mujib Borsha, she said, the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, the government has taken massive programmes for the overall development of the country and implementing those to change the fate of the general people including those who are living in the rural areas.

BDST: 1335 HRS, FEB 23, 2021
AP/SMS