Dinajpur Correspondent/

Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed said that the Bangladesh Army always stands by the poor and helpless people as part of public welfare work. The Prime Minister has clearly told me that besides winter training, the army should be closer to the people. People should benefit. We are also trying to work for public welfare.

He said these things at the distribution ceremony of winter clothes at Dugdugir Hat of Ghoraghat Upazila of Dinajpur and Chakchaka Government Primary School of Fulbari Upazila under the management of 11th and 66th Infantry Division of the Army on Tuesday. These clothes were distributed among 1 thousand 800 helpless and distressed families in two places.

The army chief said, today we are distributing winter clothes among helpless and distressed families. Apart from this, the army is providing free medical care to the needy people in the winter training area. Free consultation and medicines are being provided to the patients. Agricultural materials are also being distributed to different parts of the country along with cattle treatment. He also said that we believe that the army needs the support of the people on the battlefield to achieve success. Urbanization has reduced the opportunities for training in open spaces. Therefore, the involvement of the army with the people has increased more than before.

Earlier, the army chief visited the winter training areas of 11 and 66 infantry divisions. Quartermaster General Lieutenant General Saiful Alam, General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Bogra Area Commander Major General Khaled-Al-Mamun, GOC and Rangpur Area Commander Major General Faizur Rahman along with senior officials of the headquarters and local formations were present.