DHAKA, Mar 26 (V7N) – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined the nation today in celebrating the 56th Independence and National Day, witnessing a spectacular military parade at the National Parade Ground in Dhaka. In a moment of high symbolic value—marking his first participation in the parade as Prime Minister after nearly 18 years—Rahman exchanged heartfelt greetings with members of the military and reaffirmed his government's commitment to transforming the Bangladesh Armed Forces into a modern, technologically advanced, and professionally excellent defense force.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Rahman spoke of his personal connection to the military, stating, "I am also a child of an armed forces family. We want to further strengthen the armed forces to fulfill the very purpose for which they were formed—to serve and protect the nation." His remarks followed a colorful display of the country's defense capabilities, featuring contingents from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, alongside paratroopers descending with the national flag and a thunderous flypast by MiG-29 fighter jets.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin attended the ceremony as the chief guest, taking the salute and inspecting the parade in an open jeep. The event, which returned to the National Parade Square after a long hiatus, was attended by top military brass, including Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan. Prime Minister's Defense Adviser Brigadier General (retd.) Dr. AKM Shamsul Islam and the Prime Minister's daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, were also present to witness the displays of patriotism and military discipline.

Earlier in the day, both the President and Prime Minister paid their respects to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar. The Prime Minister’s presence at the parade ground, coupled with his recent pledge to modernize border security and consolidate national defense, signals a strategic shift toward strengthening the country's sovereign capabilities. As the ceremony concluded, Rahman spent time personally greeting the contingent commanders, expressing his gratitude for their dedication to the "spirit of independence."

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