Staff Reporter:
Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman on Thursday stressed the importance of a strong defence posture to safeguard Bangladesh’s foreign policy, warning that preparedness is essential in an increasingly volatile global environment.
“We prepare for war not to fight, but to prevent it. Without a strong defence system, it is not possible to implement foreign policy,” he said while speaking as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the Capstone Course conducted by the National Defence College (NDC) in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Addressing the ongoing global energy crisis, he noted that the current global environment is highly challenging, with new crises emerging regularly, and that energy security has become a major concern.
The Army chief pointed out that Bangladesh has only one refinery – Eastern Refinery – which can process a limited amount of oil relative to national demand, forcing the country to import the remainder at higher prices.
He added that, even after five decades of independence, a second refinery has yet to be established, further complicating the situation.
Referring to global developments, he said tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, as well as instability in areas such as the Strait of Hormuz, are disrupting energy supplies and directly affecting daily life.
Speaking to course participants, he expressed satisfaction that they had visited the Chattogram Hill Tracts and observed the Rohingya situation.
He described the Rohingya crisis as a national issue and urged participants to take responsibility in addressing such challenges.
In his concluding remarks, he expressed hope that the NDC would organise more such courses in the future and that participants would apply their knowledge in their respective fields to support national development and security.
The three-week “Capstone Course 2026/1” ran from 5 April to 23 April. Certificates were distributed to the fellows by the Army chief.
The Capstone Course, one of the NDC’s key training programmes, aims to enhance strategic awareness, promote constructive thinking, strengthen inter-agency cooperation, and build a shared understanding of national security and development.
Senior military and civilian officials from the armed forces, along with representatives from various government and private organisations, NDC faculty members, and other distinguished guests, were present at the event.
