|| Special Correspondent: Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government is committed to building a modern, technology-driven and capable Bangladesh Army equipped to address the evolving security challenges of the 21st century.“The Bangladesh Army must be prepared to meet the demands of the time,” the Prime Minister said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Army Headquarters Selection Board-2026 at Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday morning.Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh is currently facing complex and multidimensional security challenges, ranging from maritime and border security to transnational and cross-border threats, cyber and information security, disaster response and humanitarian assistance.“In this context, it is now the demand of time to follow a realistic and sustainable model of defence modernisation, taking into account Bangladesh’s geographical location, economic capacity, national security needs, and the expectations and tolerance of the people,” he said.Addressing senior army officials, the Prime Minister said the strength of Bangladesh’s defence does not depend solely on the capabilities of the armed forces. Rather, national unity, preparedness and resilience are equally important.“As Prime Minister and Defence Minister, I believe the strength of Bangladesh’s defence lies not only in the capability of the armed forces but also in the unity, preparedness, and resilience of the entire nation,” he said.Referring to the vision of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Tarique Rahman said the government would formulate a modern policy under which the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, civil administration, industry, technology sector, educational institutions and the people would work together within an integrated national security framework.He said the objective of the policy was not to promote war, but to build a well-prepared, stable and self-reliant armed force capable of responding effectively to any potential crisis, aggression or disaster while protecting the country’s sovereignty, independence and national interests.The Prime Minister said the nature of warfare has changed significantly in recent years. National security is no longer confined to protecting territorial borders, as modern threats increasingly involve cyberspace, information warfare, drone technology, artificial intelligence and regional geopolitical competition.Against this backdrop, he said, the government plans to further strengthen the country’s defence capabilities by enhancing drone technology, satellite-based surveillance, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities.Tarique Rahman said the government is also preparing a roadmap for the modernisation and development of the armed forces.“Our vision for future force development prioritises capability over numbers, effectiveness alongside expansion, technological innovation over platform acquisition, and jointness rather than single force-centric development,” he said.He outlined several key priorities for strengthening the armed forces. These include building a disciplined, modern and capable military, strengthening integrated defence planning, formulating time-befitting defence policies and strategies, promoting the domestic defence industry, and reinforcing democratic civil-military relations.The Prime Minister said Bangladesh’s defence modernisation must be realistic, sustainable and consistent with the country’s economic capacity and national priorities.He also stressed the importance of technological innovation and coordinated national efforts in ensuring effective security preparedness in an increasingly complex global environment.The government’s proposed approach, he said, would seek to ensure that Bangladesh’s armed forces remain capable of protecting national sovereignty and responding to emerging security challenges while maintaining the country’s commitment to peace, stability and national development.