Priority to merit, professionalism for promotion in army: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed the authorities to give the highest priority to merit, professional qualifications, integrity, leadership qualities and discipline in promotions and postings in the Bangladesh Army, instead of political considerations or personal preferences.

On the same day, the Prime Minister ordered the formation of a high-level committee to address the long-standing problems facing the country’s tea industry and ensure its sustainable development. The government will also provide necessary policy support to the sector.

The Prime Minister gave the directives while attending two separate programmes in Dhaka on Sunday.

Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the ‘Army General Selection Board-2026’ at the Army Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment in the morning, the Prime Minister said selecting the most qualified officers would further strengthen the army’s discipline, professionalism and future leadership.

Addressing the generals, Tarique Rahman said merit, integrity and professional qualifications must be the only criteria for promotion, rising above political ideology.

The Prime Minister said the nature of global security is changing rapidly. Therefore, alongside conventional military capabilities, the army needs to strengthen its capabilities in cyber security, information warfare, drone technology, artificial intelligence, satellite surveillance and electronic warfare.

For this purpose, the government is formulating a modern defence policy and a long-term development framework for the armed forces, the Prime Minister said.

Tarique Rahman said future defence planning would focus more on capabilities rather than numbers. Technological innovation, jointness, development of the domestic defence industry and integrated defence planning would also receive special importance.

The Prime Minister respectfully recalled the contribution of the proclaimer of independence and martyred President Ziaur Rahman to the modernisation and reconstruction of the army.

Tarique Rahman also paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War, war-wounded freedom fighters, army personnel who were killed while on duty in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in a drone attack in South Sudan.

Praising the army’s contribution to building border roads, clearing mines and maintaining peace and security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Prime Minister said the Bangladesh Army has also enhanced the country’s image internationally through its participation in UN peacekeeping missions.

The Prime Minister said the army played a responsible and commendable role during the 2024 student uprising, in maintaining law and order during the interim government, ensuring security in industrial areas, conducting elections and dealing with various national crises.

Highlighting the importance of physical fitness for promotion, Tarique Rahman quoted the late US General Norman Schwarzkopf: “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”

The Prime Minister said there is no room for compromise on discipline and physical fitness in the army.

Earlier, the Army Chief and the Chief of General Staff (CGS) welcomed the Prime Minister upon arrival at the Army Headquarters.

The Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam and senior military officials were present at the event.

After the programme, the Prime Minister took part in a photo session with army officers and recorded comments in the army’s inspector’s book.

Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman attended a meeting on the development of the country’s tea industry at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on the same day.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister said the tea industry is an important sector of the country’s economy and assured all necessary policy, financial and institutional support for its development.

Owners of different tea gardens and their representatives raised several challenges facing the industry, including rising production costs, financing difficulties, increasing energy costs and maintaining competitiveness in the international market.