Ajay Bhatt, Indian state Minister for defense on Wednesday called upon the scientific community to make advancements in technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), so that the nation is prepared to deal with future threats. He was addressing the National Technology Day function organised by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in New Delhi. The Government is making all efforts to meet the defence requirements through domestic procurement, he said, exhorting all sectors of the defence ecosystem to work together to achieve excellence in cutting edge technologies.   Bhatt lauded the efforts of DRDO in establishing a self-reliant research and development (R&D) ecosystem which provides the Armed Forces with state-of-the-art equipment, in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.   "DRDO has proved itself through design, development and production of highly-sophisticated weapon platforms/systems. It has enhanced the involvement of the private sector. Due to these efforts, India is now among the top 25 nations exporting defence equipment," he said. National Technology Day is observed on May 11 every year to commemorate the nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran in 1998. The theme this year is 'Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for Sustainable Future'.   Bhatt said, the theme underlines the importance of all-round development of science and technology for the progress of a nation. During the event, Bhatt gave away DRDO awards for the year of 2019 to the scientific fraternity for displaying outstanding acumen in realising the technological dreams of the nation.   The category of awards included awards for Life-Time Achievement, Technology leadership, Senior Scientists Awards, Academy Excellence, Techno-Managerial, Self-Reliance and Performance Awards.   Bhatt also released two monographs - 'Endeavours in Self-reliance Defence Research (1983-2018)' authored by former Director DRDO Dr KG Narayanan and 'Concepts and Practices for Cyber Security' by former Director General at DRDO Dr G Athithan. A Defence Technology Spectrum was also released on the occasion. The event also witnessed three orations from DRDO scientists on advanced technologies. Source: ANI  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Nov 21) said she did not want to see any impediment towards Bangladesh's advancement, calling upon all to march the country forward by maintaining the ability it has achieved to keep pace with the international standard.    "I just want on this Armed Forces Day (AFD) that the advancement of our country will not be allowed to be hindered in any way and Bangladesh can move ahead on the world stage with dignity and honour," she said.   She was addressing a reception accorded to the gallantry award winning freedom fighters of the armed forces and their heirs marking the AFD-2021 joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital.    The Prime Minister also presented peacetime awards to the selected members of the armed forces for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields during 2020-21.    Sheikh Hasina, also in-charge of the defence ministry, said that the independence achieved by efforts of all people and blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs cannot be failed, adding, "We cannot even let it happen."    "Bangladesh will move ahead with keeping the dignity we have achieved so far. InshaAllah, we will build a prosperous "Sonar Bangladesh" as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," she also said.   On behalf of the Prime Minister, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque handed over the peacetime award to the recipients at the Army Multipurpose Hall in Dhaka Cantonment here.    Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, former Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed and five more officers from the armed forces received the peacetime award this year.    Marking the day, Sheikh Hasina also presented gifts to the families of the successors of Birshreshthos and other gallantry award-recipient freedom fighters of the armed forces.    PM's Security Adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan were present.    Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman gave the welcome address at the function. The Prime Minister spelled out various measures taken by her government for the advancement of the armed forces and other institutions.   She said, "We have been implementing huge programmes for the training of the members of the armed forces and other institutes. So, we can now claim that Bangladesh has achieved the ability to keep pace with any international standard organization."    Sheikh Hasina recalled the contribution of the armed forces to the Liberation War, saying that the armed forces personnel and the freedom fighters planned to attack collectively the Pakistani occupation forces on November 21 in 1971 while the allied force of India joined the plan.    She continued that the Pakistani occupation forces had been defeated and surrendered on December 16 in 1971.   She also said, "Once, the most regretful thing was to dishonor the freedom fighters, who fought for their country's liberation, leaving everything behind. Such a time had come after August 15, 1975 (assassination of the Father of the Nation) that the freedom fighters feared to give their identities as freedom fighters."   After Bangabandhu's assassination along with most of his family members, Sheikh Hasina said that the history of the Liberation had been destroyed to erase the name of the Father of the Nation from the history, she said.   The Prime Minister added: "I don't know whether any country of the world tries to distort the history of their "Bijoygatha" (victory). But, such heinous act happened in this country."    Despite the BNP-Jamaat clique tried to remove the name of Bangabandhu from the history, the UNESCO has recognised the historic March 7 Speech of the Father of the Nation as part of the world's documentary heritage while it has also started giving award titled "UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Award on Creative Economy."   After assuming power in 1996, the premier said they have reinstated the honour and dignity which was achieved by the Liberation War and but was later destroyed by killing the architect of the country's independence on August 15 in 1975.    She added: "We are running the country imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War and ideal of Bangabandhu."   The Prime Minister said they have turned Bangladesh into a developed one following the footprints of the Father of the Nation and vowed to bring smiles on the faces of the countrymen by giving them an improved life. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, development is visible during the tenure of Awami League. Now all of us have to work together for advancement of the country. The Prime Minister said this in her introductory speech during the dialogue between Jatiya Oikya Front and Awami League and 14-party at her official residence at Gonobhaban at 7 pm on Thursday. The Prime Minister said, I welcome all of you who joined the program at Gonobhaban- the Bhaban of general people. She said, we have achieved independence in exchange of blood of lakhs of martyrs. We have achieved the independence under leadership of our great leader father of the nation. Our main aim is to ensure reaching success of our independence to the door steps of every people. We are working with this target. Earlier, from 6:30 pm the leaders of Oikya Front, Awami League and 14-party began to enter at the Gonobhaban. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina entered the banquet hall at around 7 pm. Earlier in the evening the leaders of Jatiya Oikya Front started for Gonobhaban boarded on 10 vehicles through Shanti Nagar. Dr. Kamal’s car was in front, later BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other leaders followed the car of Dr. Kamal. Earlier, for the dialogue a list of 16 leaders of Jatiya Oikya Front led by Dr. Kamal Hossain was sent to Awami League. Later at the last moment on Thursday five other names were included. The invited 21 leaders are- BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP standing committee members- Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar and Mirza Abbas. There were convener of Nagorik Oikya Mahmudur Rahman Manna, SM Akram; Gono Forum general secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu and presidium member Subrata Chowdhury; JSD president ASM Abdur Rab, general secretary Abdul Malek Ratan and vice  president Tania Rab; Oikya Prokriya’s Sultan Mansur and ABM Mostafa Amin and Gonoshasthya Kendra trustee Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury as an independent member; BNP standing committee member Dr. Moyeen Khan and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, the other three from Gono Forum are- presidium member Mokabbir Khan, Advocate Jaglul Haider Afrid and joint general secretary AOM Shafiqullah. AH