Terming the War of Liberation as the greatest episode in Bangladesh`s history, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday reiterated her firm determination to do whatever is necessary for the welfare of the Freedom Fighters and their successors."I cannot at least forget the supreme sacrifice the Freedom Fighters made in our great War of Liberation... I would do everything necessary for them and may Almighty Allah give such a scope to me," she said.Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh got recognition as an independent and sovereign state in the world map through a bloody armed struggle.She said the freedom fighters have presented an independent country with the red-green national flag to us through making a unique contribution to the Liberation War by risking their life."So our government has been working untiringly to reestablish the freedom fighters with proper dignity and give highest recognition to their contribution," she said.The Prime Minister said this while addressing a reception accorded to the family members of the Bir Sreshthas and selected recipients of gallantry awards including Bir Uttam, Bir Bikram and Bir Pratik marking the Armed Forces Day 2015.Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division (AFD) Lt Gen Moinul Islam delivered the welcome address at the function held on the AFD premises.Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, PM`s Security Advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief of Army Staff General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haque, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Abu Esrar and high civil and military officials were present.At the function, the Prime Minister presented gifts to the successors of seven Birshreshthos as well as other gallantry award-recipients.She also handed over "Bahini Padak (forces medals) and "Osamanya Seba Padak" (outstanding service medals) among 19 armed forces officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and members of other ranks as recognition to their heroic role in war and peacetime. The Prime Minister said her government is also pledge-bound to preserve the glorious history and tradition of the Liberation War. "It`s our national responsibility to remember invaluable contribution of the valiant Freedom Fighters to achieving independence," she said.Elaborating her government`s different steps for the welfare of the freedom fighters, the Prime Minister said the monthly allowance for the general Freedom Fighters has been raised to Taka 8,000 from only Taka 900. "There is a proposal to increase the amount to Taka 10,000 and we would do it," she said.She also mentioned the increase of the allowance for the gallantry award-recipient freedom fighters as well as general freedom fighters alongside the raising the number of allowance-receivers, providing rations to the families of the martyred and war-wounded freedom fighters, construction of Freedom Fighters` Complex in all districts and upazilas.The PM said a programme for developing a database has been undertaken to publish a complete list of the freedom fighters in modern system."A flawless list of the freedom fighters would be presented to the nation by completing the database programme," she said, adding the issue of providing the original certificate with nine security bar codes to the freedom fighters is under active consideration.Sheikh Hasina said Taka 350 crore has been allocated in the current 2015-16 fiscal year against allowances, medical treatment and ration goods for family members of the martyred and war-wounded freedom fighters.The Prime Minister said she has already given directives to bring the martyred and war-wounded freedom fighters of the Armed Forces and their successors under the state honourarium.She said the Liberation War Affairs Ministry has taken a Taka 227.97 crore project to construct houses of landless insolvent freedom fighters for rehabilitation of the valiant freedom fighters. Besides, she said, the work on developing a web application with detailed information of the gallantry award-recipient freedom fighters has already been completed under the supervision of the AFD.Through these initiatives, the PM hoped, it would be possible to remember all valiant freedom fighters who made supreme sacrifice for Bangladesh`s independence successfully.Spelling out Bangladesh`s impressive success in all sectors, the Prime Minister also urged all to work together so that none can impede the country`s advancement."Bangladesh is a victorious nation which earned independence through War of Liberation...we will always move ahead by keeping our head high, not bowing down to anybody," she said.She also called upon all to dedicate themselves from their respective positions to building the nation being imbued with the spirit of the War of Liberation.At the outset her speech, the Prime Minister extended her heartiest greetings and congratulations to the members of Bangladesh Armed Forces on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day.On this historic day, she said, the brave members of the armed forces and the common people of the country launched together a coordinated assault against the Pakistani occupation forces which sped up the victory in the Liberation War.Spelling out her government`s strides for development of the armed forces, Sheikh Hasina said her administration is pledge-bound for modernization and physical and infrastructural uplift as well as implementation of all welfare-oriented programmes.The Prime Minister said the great task of safeguarding the country`s independence has been reposed on the members of the armed forces. "Our armed forces members have been extending their support to develop the country, construct infrastructure, maintain law and order and face natural disasters," she said.Sheikh Hasina said the aim of Bangabandhu was to build efficient and all-round armed forces. In its continuation, she said, the present government introduced war and peacetime medals as recognition to the heroic roles of the armed forces members during the war and peacetime. "It`s an epoch-making step to boost up the mental strength for the armed forces members," she noted.Pointing to awarding 19 officers, JCOs and members of other ranks with peacetime medals today, the Prime Minister hoped that the members of the armed forces would remain dedicated to any need of the nation including protecting sovereignty of the country."It`s my belief that not only in the country, the members of the armed forces would continue to shine Bangladesh`s image by discharging their duty with honesty, integrity and efficiency. The honour you earned today would make you more confident in future," she said.Highlighting the government`s stunning successes in human development index, poverty alleviation, GDP, export, forex reserve, MDGs and employment, the Prime Minister said the disparity between the rich and the poor is reducing. "But the gap will have to be narrowed down speedily," she said.Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has been upgraded to lower middle-income country due to various steps of her government. "We cannot remain only as a lower middle income country, I have firm belief that we would must be turned into a higher middle-income country by 2021," she said.