The Honourable Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and BNP Chairman, Mr. Tarique Rahman, visited the Bangladesh Army’s summer exercise. This was the first time in the country’s history that a Prime Minister personally visited an Army summer training area and spent an extended period with soldiers at the field level.

At 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, the Prime Minister made an unannounced visit to the summer training area of 8 BIR, under the 9 Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army, in Singair Upazila of Manikganj. He inspected a large part of the training area on foot.

During the exercise, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman toured different sections of the firm base and was briefed by the responsible General Officer Commanding (GOC) and the unit’s Commanding Officer (CO) on training activities and tactical preparedness. He attentively listened to a commander’s verbal operational order and observed a raid exercise conducted by Army personnel.

The Prime Minister also inspected various aspects of realistic battlefield training, including troop positioning, tactics, the use of weapons, and operational preparedness. He entered an Army bunker and exchanged views with participating officers and soldiers on tactical matters. He also visited soldiers positioned in camouflage under the cover of tree leaves, inquired about their well-being, and encouraged them in the performance of their duties.

At one stage, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman ate freshly prepared field rations arranged for the participating soldiers and had tea with them. The soldiers present expressed enthusiasm at having the Head of Government spend an extended period with them in the field.

Later, in a guidance-oriented address to Army personnel, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that the people of Bangladesh have deep confidence in the Bangladesh Army. Praising the Army’s glorious role in addressing national crises and maintaining law and order, he stressed the importance of maintaining professional training, discipline, and the highest level of preparedness. The Prime Minister also wished the Bangladesh Army continued success.

Present on the occasion were the Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A. K. M. Shamsul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Tarik, and senior officials of the Bangladesh Army.