1,435 defence men forced to retire, fired

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A total of 1,436 army, navy and airforce personnel have been forced to retire or dismissed on disciplinary and administrative grounds from October 1, 2001 to June 15 this year.

Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, minister-in charge of defence affairs in parliament, informed the House yesterday about the forced retirements in the armed forces in a written answer to a question from opposition lawmaker Faruk Khan.


The opposition lawmaker, however, termed the incidents of forced retirement and dismissal ill motivated. "The government should not have done it. It could not show any logical reason for such action," Faruk Khan, who is a former army officer, told reporters after yesterday's session.

The minister said the disciplinary actions--forced retirement and dismissal -- were taken against the persons at different times for their activities against law and order and on administrative grounds.


During the period (from October 1, 2001 to June 15 this year), the minister said 533 of the army were awarded forced retirement and 903 faced dismissal.

Fifty-nine army officers were awarded forced retirement and 27 dismissed. Also, 438 employees of army were given forced retirement and 735 dismissed.


Eight navy officers were sent into forced retirement and ten others dismissed. Furthermore, seven employees of the navy were asked to go into forced retirement and 65 faced dismissal.


In the airforce, according to the minister, 13 officers were given forced retirement and eight were dismissed. Also, eight airforce employees were forced into retirement and 58 others dismissed.
-Dailystar