Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has asked the members of the Navy and Air Force Selection Board to prioritise merit, competence, leadership, discipline, integrity, loyalty and professional suitability when recommending officers for promotion, without being influenced by political ideology or personal preference.
He made the remarks while inaugurating the Navy and Air Force Selection Board-2026 at Air Force Headquarters.
The board will consider eligible Bangladesh Navy officers holding the ranks of captain, commander and lieutenant commander, and Bangladesh Air Force officers holding the ranks of group captain, wing commander and squadron leader for promotion to the next ranks.
The Prime Minister said the Navy and Air Force play an important role in protecting the country’s independence and sovereignty, while also contributing to internal peace, discipline and stability and supporting civil authorities during disasters.
Before opening the selection board, Tarique Rahman adorned Chief of Naval Staff Khandker Misbah Ul Azim with the Admiral rank badge and congratulated him on his appointment as the new Navy chief.
Admiral Misbah expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Bangladesh Navy and sought his guidance to develop the force into a modern and capable navy.
In his address, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. He also recalled the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the 2024 mass uprising and those who sacrificed their lives or were injured during movements for democracy and people’s rights.
Tarique Rahman thanked the chiefs and members of the Navy and Air Force for their service and sacrifices.
PM inspects Air Force technology
The Prime Minister later inspected several operational and research facilities of the Bangladesh Air Force.
At the Air Defence Operations Centre (ADOC) in Dhaka Cantonment, he unveiled the inaugural plaque of the Air Defence System Integration (ADSI) and observed its activities.
He also visited the Air Command Operations Centre (ACOC), where he watched live footage showing fighter aircraft intercepting simulated enemy aircraft and helicopters conducting troop insertion, based on feeds from UAVs operating from Chattogram.
At the Aerospace Research and Development Complex (ARDC), the Prime Minister observed research activities and inspected various locally developed UAVs, including drones, kamikaze drones, interceptor drones and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs.
He also observed a quadcopter flight.
Tarique Rahman expressed hope that developing advanced aerial systems through the Air Force’s own technological capabilities would strengthen Bangladesh’s research, innovation and technological self-reliance.
The Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Khondkar Misbah ul Azim, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, Defence Secretary and senior military officials attended the programme.
