Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the Navy and Air Force Selection Board to give top priority to merit and professional competence when considering officers for promotion, without being influenced by political ideology or personal preferences.

He also stressed the importance of leadership, discipline, integrity, loyalty and suitability for the respective appointments in the promotion process.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while inaugurating the Navy and Air Force Selection Board-2026 at the Air Force Headquarters on Sunday morning, said his Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

The board will consider eligible Bangladesh Navy officers holding the ranks of captain, commander and lieutenant commander, as well as Bangladesh Air Force officers serving as group captain, wing commander and squadron leader, for promotion to the next ranks.

On his arrival at the Air Force Headquarters, Tarique Rahman was received by his 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 and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.

Before inaugurating the selection board, the Prime Minister adorned Chief of Naval Staff Khondkar Misbah ul Azim with the Admiral rank badge and congratulated him on his appointment as the new Navy chief.

Admiral Khondkar Misbah ul Azim expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Bangladesh Navy and sought his guidance in further developing the force into a modern, capable and time-befitting navy.

Addressing the selection board, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

He also recalled with deep respect the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the martyrs of the 2024 mass uprising, and those killed or injured in movements for democracy and people’s rights from 1971 to 2024.

Tarique Rahman paid homage to all martyrs, wounded freedom fighters and valiant freedom fighters of the Liberation War, particularly the martyrs and heroes of the armed forces, including members of the Navy and Air Force.

He thanked the chiefs and all members of the Navy and Air Force for their sacrifices and contributions to the country’s independence and sovereignty, as well as their role in maintaining internal peace, discipline and stability and supporting civil administration during disasters.

Air Force installations inspected

After the programme, the Prime Minister visited several key operational installations 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 inspected its air defence activities.

He subsequently visited the Air Command Operations Centre (ACOC), where he watched live footage from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating from Chattogram. Through the centre’s Digital Large Display, he observed Air Force fighter aircraft intercepting enemy aircraft and helicopters conducting troop insertion.

Later, Tarique Rahman visited the Aerospace Research and Development Complex (ARDC) and observed its research activities.

During the visit, the Bangladesh Air Force displayed various types of indigenous UAVs developed through its own capabilities, including drones, kamikaze drones, interceptor drones and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs. The Prime Minister also observed the flight of a quadcopter.

He expressed hope that the development of such advanced aerial systems through the Air Force’s own technological capabilities would contribute significantly to research, innovation and technological self-reliance.

The Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser, chiefs of the Navy and Air Force, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, Defence Secretary and senior officials of the armed forces were present during the visit.