Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged members of the Navy and Air Force Selection Board to prioritise merit, competence, leadership, discipline, integrity, loyalty and suitability when promoting officers, without being swayed by political ideology or personal preferences.

“Bangladesh Navy and Air Force, alongside safeguarding the country’s independence and sovereignty, have been making crucial contributions to maintaining internal peace, discipline and stability and assisting the civil administration in tackling disasters,” he said.

Rahman made the remarks while inaugurating the Navy and Air Force Selection Board-2026 at the Air Force Headquarters, his Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony said.

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

Rahman was received at Air Force Headquarters 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 opening the board, Rahman adorned Chief of Naval Staff Khandker Misbah Ul Azim with the Admiral rank badge and congratulated him on his appointment as the new Navy chief.

Admiral Khandker Misbah ul Azim thanked the prime minister on behalf of the Navy and sought his guidance in developing the force into a modern, capable and time-befitting navy.

In his address to the board, Rahman paid tribute to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

He also recalled the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 mass uprising, as well as those killed or injured in movements for democracy and people’s rights between 1971 and 2024.

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 the Navy and Air Force.

He thanked the chiefs and members of the Navy and Air Force for their sacrifices and contributions to the country.

The prime minister later inspected 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 then visited the Air Command Operations Centre (ACOC), where he watched a live feed from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating from Chattogram. The feed showed Air Force fighter aircraft intercepting enemy aircraft and helicopters inserting troops.

At the Aerospace Research and Development Complex (ARDC), Rahman observed ongoing research activities.

The visit included a display of indigenous UAVs developed by the Bangladesh Air Force, including drones, kamikaze drones, interceptor drones and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVs. He also watched a quadcopter flight.

The prime minister said he hoped the development of advanced aerial systems using the Air Force’s own technological capabilities would advance research, innovation and technological self-reliance.

The prime minister’s defence adviser, the chiefs of the Navy and Air Force, the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, the defence secretary and senior armed forces officials were present.