Service chief tenure capped at 4 years

The approval came in a weekly meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair yesterday. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam said the proposed legislation was expected to be framed regarding the services of the three services chiefs in line with the constitutional provision enacted 44 years back. “So far the process [of their appointment, retirement, salary and allowances] was being done by the official order Joint Service Instructions,” Alam said. The draft proposed that the president will appoint the chiefs of defence forces and they will hold the offices for maximum four years at a stretch or with extension if they are not given retirement in public interest or opt for voluntary retirement themselves. According to the proposed law, the chiefs of three services will receive salary in same scale of the cabinet secretary in addition to allowances. On expiry of their four-year tenure, they will be deemed disqualified to be reemployed in any civil or military administration. However, they can get appointment in any constitutional position and work contractually in any private organisation, the draft law said. Border haats The cabinet also approved the draft of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a modus operandi to renew the tenure of the border haats between Bangladesh and India, increasing the time to five years from the existing three years. The cabinet secretary said: “Border haats began in October 2010 and was extended in 2013. There are four haats along the border of the two countries which have already expired. As per the new MoU the tenure of the haats will be increased. The number of haats will also be increased.” The draft also proposed to increase the number of traders from each side to sell products in a border haat to 50 from the present 25. “The purchase limit for customers will also be increased to $200 from $100,” Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam added.