Sangsad Bhaban, Nov. 11 -- A total of 153 members of Bangladesh's armed forces and 24 police personnel have sacrificed their lives while serving in support of global peace, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Parliament on Wednesday.

He disclosed the information in response to a question from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MP Abdul Gafur during the question-and-answer session.

In response to a question from National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Atiqur Rahman Mujahid, the minister outlined various government initiatives to develop, expand and modernise the Bangladesh Army.

He said the government was implementing a range of well-planned and timely programmes to strengthen and modernise the Army.

Initiatives were underway to procure state-of-the-a...