Armed Forces Must Be Ready to Defend Sovereignty, Yunus Tells Troops

Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Day has taken on new political weight this year, as Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus used his address at Dhaka Cantonment’s Senakunja to link military readiness, democratic transition and national resilience.

He opened by mourning those killed and injured in the recent earthquake and related incidents across the country, urging the forces to stand beside affected citizens. At the same time, he reminded officers and soldiers that their core duty remains clear: protecting independence, sovereignty and the people of Bangladesh.

Armed Forces Day: remembering 1971 and the martyrs

Yunus framed his speech around the historic significance of 21 November.

On this date in 1971, the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force launched a coordinated attack on Pakistani occupation forces, turning the tide of the Liberation War and laying the foundations of today’s armed forces.

He paid tribute to the martyrs who fell in that struggle, as well as wounded freedom fighters and their families.

The chief adviser stressed that the forces were “born in war”, providing guerrilla training, coordinating operations across 11 sectors and fighting shoulder to shoulder with farmers, workers, students and ordinary citizens.

Sovereignty and security: always ready for external aggression

A central message of the address was preparedness.

Bangladesh, Yunus said, is a peace-loving nation that seeks respectful and peaceful coexistence with neighbours and friendly states.

However, he warned that this peaceful posture does not remove the need for vigilance.

The armed forces must stay ready to repel any future aggression or attack from external enemies, and their deterrent power depends on modern training, new technology and stronger institutional capacity.

He pointed to ongoing efforts to reorganise the services, upgrade equipment and improve joint operations.

According to officials, recent exercises have already tested integrated land and air capabilities in realistic combat conditions.

Election duty: Yunus calls for a “smooth and festive” vote

Turning to politics, Yunus described the upcoming national election as a “crucial chapter” in Bangladesh’s democratic transition.

He expressed confidence that the armed forces will act with professionalism and discipline so that voting is peaceful, orderly and, in his words, “seamless and festive.”

The chief adviser said the military has already earned public trust by standing beside students and ordinary people during the recent anti-discrimination uprising and the post-revolution rebuilding period.

As a result, he argued, their conduct during the election will be critical for both security and public confidence in the results.

Yunus urged the forces to remain loyal to democratic and lawful leadership, making clear that their role is to protect the electoral process, not interfere in political competition.

Standing by the people at home and abroad

Beyond combat readiness, Yunus highlighted the long record of the armed forces in disaster response and nation-building.

From floods and cyclones to earthquakes, troops have repeatedly been deployed to rescue civilians, restore infrastructure and support civil administration in times of crisis.

He also praised Bangladesh’s large presence in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Over the decades, Bangladeshi troops, police and medical teams have served in dozens of fragile countries, while the nation has become one of the world’s leading contributors of female peacekeepers—something Yunus described as a source of national pride.

According to him, this dual role—defending sovereignty at home and promoting peace abroad—has turned the armed forces into a symbol of confidence both for citizens and for the international community.

Towards a “new Bangladesh” after uprising and reform

Yunus used the closing part of his speech to link military professionalism with the broader project of building a “new Bangladesh” after the 2024 student-led revolution.

He said the sacrifices of protesters, ordinary citizens and security personnel during those turbulent months created a rare opportunity to rebuild state institutions on more democratic and accountable foundations.

To seize that opportunity, he argued, the armed forces must continue to support reforms, uphold rule of law and protect the rights of all citizens.

Only then, he suggested, can Bangladesh combine security, justice and prosperity in a way that honours the martyrs of 1971 and the victims of more recent struggles.

Yunus ended by assuring veterans, wounded freedom fighters and the families of martyrs that the nation will remain grateful for their sacrifices.

If the armed forces keep standing firmly with the people, he said, Bangladesh can face external threats with confidence and move steadily toward a more democratic and dignified future.

Featured Image: Chief Adviser’s Facebook

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