Muhammad Abu Hanif: A colorful program was organized at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate to mark International Firefighters’ Day. Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Zahed Kamal attended as the chief guest. He called for transforming the Fire Service into a transparent, accountable, and truly service-oriented organization.The first session of the program began at 10:00 AM with a darbar received by the Director General. At the outset, tributes were paid to firefighters worldwide and prayers were offered for the departed souls. The Director General highlighted various development activities undertaken during his tenure and sought everyone’s cooperation to make the recently launched e-Fire License initiative a success.He said future recruitment would be conducted with the same transparency as before. He also expressed satisfaction with the Fire Service’s rapid response and successful operations during various disasters across the country, and thanked all officers and staff involved.After listening to opinions from officers present in person and those connected online, the Director General answered questions and instructed everyone to work together to uphold the institution’s reputation.The second session began at 11:00 AM. In recognition of bravery and professional excellence, 80 officers and staff selected from across the country were honored. Among them, 10 from Dhaka Division received crests, certificates, and cash awards in person.Additionally, 73 children of officers and staff who secured GPA-5 in the 2025 SSC and HSC examinations received education awards. Seventeen recipients from the Directorate and Dhaka Division were given crests and cash awards directly, while others will be honored in their respective divisions.Several award recipients shared their feelings during the event. A photo session with the honorees followed.In his closing remarks, Director of Administration and Finance Md. Shahid Atahar Hossain thanked everyone present. Senior officials of the Directorate, project directors, and officers and staff of various levels participated in the program both in person and online. The event concluded at 12:00 PM.