Dhaka: The former BNP-led government of Khaleda Zia sent 74 officers of the nation`s armed forces on "forced retirement" on "political grounds", a Bangladesh Cabinet minister has said, adding efforts are on to reinstate them.
The government is considering reinstating them in the services, in the light of recommendations of the review committee, Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker said.
Terms and conditions of the armed forces will also be considered, news reports today quoted Khandker as saying. The former armed forces officer is also in charge of
the Defence Ministry.
In reply to a query from a lawmaker from the ruling Awami League on the alleged forced retirement, Khandker said some applications are under consideration of the review committee.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier constituted the Armed Forces Division review committee to look into the alleged forced retirements by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) during the past seven years.
The parliamentary standing committee on the Defence Ministry has also urged the government to "justice to the officials who were victimised" over this period.
The reports also said the government has started recalling officers, who it said were sacked by BNP-led regime on "political considerations".
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary standing committee on the Defence Ministry led by MP Idris Ali has sent a list of "victimised" officers to the Prime Minister as she ordered their reinstatement after thorough investigation.
Ali said the government would also promote the officials who were deprived of advancement by the BNP government that was in power from 2001-2006.
Another committee member Monzur Quader Quraishi said the BNP-led four party alliance had dismissed army officers whose relatives were in opposition parties.
Bureau Report
