Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said the Armed Forces have been recognised as a symbol of confidence as they chose to stand beside the people of the country.

"In recent anti-discrimination movement and post-movement, the armed forces stood beside the people. By standing by the students and general people, the Armed Forces have been recognised again as a symbol of confidence to the people of the country," he said.

The chief adviser made the remarks while addressing a reception at Senakunja in Dhaka Cantonment on the occasion of Armed Forces Day on Thursday.

Recalling the contribution of the armed forces, Prof Yunus said since the independence of the country, the armed forces have been working, standing by the people, in nation-building and tackling disasters alongside protecting the country`s independence and sovereignty.

He said on this day in 1971, the members of the armed forces and commoners of Bangladesh jointly launched a coordinated attack against the Pakistani occupation forces.

So, he said, November 21 is being observed as a milestone of the liberation war.

The chief adviser said the armed forces were born in the war of 1971, while the members of the army, navy and air forces along with ordinary people carried out attacks on the Pakistani forces.

The armed forces provided guerrilla training to freedom fighters during the liberation war too, he added.

"On this special occasion, I deeply recalled the martyrs of the liberation war and all valiant freedom fighters, including the wounded ones," he said.

The chief adviser also remembered all the martyrs and injured ones in the July-August revolution whose self-sacrifice created a new scope to rebuild the country, saying the nation will remember their sacrifice with respect forever.