DHAKA, April 18, 2024 (BSS) - Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed today said Bangladesh Army never forgets that the main role of military forces is to protect the sovereignty of the country.

"We never forget the main role of military forces is to protect the sovereignty of the country. That is our prime duty and we should be ready to doing that," he said.

The army chief was addressing as the chief guest a seminar titled "Defence Diplomacy: Strategy for Bangladesh" organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium.

Describing the military diplomacy, he said intention can change overnight but capability does not change overnight.
 
"You are my friend today but what happens if you are not my friend tomorrow? We should be capable of defending our national interest, our motherland but the main foreign policy dictum says every tone for us," he said.

Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's foreign policy dictum "Friendship to all, malice towards none", General 
S M Shafiuddin said Bangladesh Army is doing everything in contributing to achieving that foreign policy.

"Whenever there is any opportunity whether it is told or untold we grab and do everything so that it only benefits Bangladesh and Bangladesh becomes a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by our Father of the Nation," he said.
 
The Army Chief said military persons not only learn how to fight a war but also know how to prevent or avoid any war to achieve the national interest.
 
Diplomacy is nothing but an effort to achieve national interest in any form, he added.

BIISS Chairman Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker chaired the seminar while its Director General Major General Md Abu Bakar Siddique Khan delivered the welcome address.

Chief of General Staff, Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman was also present in the seminar.