Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday directed members of the Navy and Air Force Selection Boards to ensure that officers are considered for promotion based on professional competence and merit, irrespective of political ideology and personal biases.

He said professional skills, leadership qualities, discipline, integrity, loyalty and overall suitability for appointment should be given priority in evaluating officers for promotion.

The Prime Minister gave the directive while inaugurating the Navy and Air Force Selection Boards-2026 at the Bangladesh Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment.

Eligible officers of the Bangladesh Navy, including Captains, Commanders and Lieutenant Commanders, and Bangladesh Air Force officers holding the ranks of Group Captain, Wing Commander and Squadron Leader, will be considered for promotion by the boards, said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

Tarique Rahman said the Navy and Air Force have been playing an important role not only in safeguarding the country’s independence and sovereignty but also in supporting the civil administration in maintaining internal peace and stability and responding to disasters.

He thanked the chiefs and all members of the two forces for their contributions and sacrifices in serving the country.

In his address to the Selection Boards, the Prime Minister paid tribute to late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

He also remembered with gratitude the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, those killed in the 2024 student-led mass uprising, and all those who were killed or injured in various movements between 1971 and 2024 for democracy and the rights of the people.

Tarique Rahman paid tribute to the martyrs, wounded freedom fighters and all valiant freedom fighters of the Liberation War, particularly the fallen members and other servicemen of the Armed Forces, including the Navy and Air Force, whose sacrifices, he said, the nation will remember with enduring gratitude.

Earlier, the Prime Minister was received at the venue by his Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, Chief 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.

He inaugurated the Navy and Air Force Selection Boards-2026 and later visited several key operational and research installations of the Bangladesh Air Force at its headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment.

Before the inauguration of the board, the Prime Minister formally adorned the newly appointed Navy chief with the rank badge of Admiral and congratulated him.

The Navy chief expressed his sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Bangladesh Navy.

He sought the Prime Minister’s valuable advice and guidance in further developing the Navy into a more modern, capable and time-responsive force.

The Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser, the Army and Air Force chiefs, and the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division were also present during the badge-adornment ceremony.

Later, Tarique Rahman visited the Air Defence Operations Centre (ADOC), where he unveiled the inaugural plaque of the Air Defence System Integration (ADSI) and observed its various air defence activities.

He also visited the Air Command Operations Centre (ACOC), where he observed, through a digital large display, simulated fighter aircraft interception operations and a helicopter troop insertion operation supported by a live feed from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The Prime Minister later visited the Aerospace Research and Development Complex (ARDC) and observed its research and development activities.

Various indigenously developed UAVs, including drones, kamikaze drones, interceptor drones and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) systems, were displayed during the visit. He also watched the flight of a quadcopter.

Tarique Rahman expressed hope that the development of such modern aviation systems using the Air Force’s own technological capabilities will mark significant progress in research, innovation and technological self-reliance.

The defence secretary and senior military officials were present.