Retired military officers, politicians and journalists on Saturday demanded forming an independent Armed Forces Reform Commission to ensure overall professionalism, dignity and justice in the Armed forces.
They raised the demand at a discussion organised by Nexus Defence and Justice, a platform pressing for an Armed Forces reform commission, at the National Press Club in the capital.
Earlier on January 12, a seven-member delegation, including the leader of Justice for Comrades, an alliance of retired and serving military officials, retired brigadier general Md Hasan Nasir submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Defense secretary Md Ashraf Uddin.
The alliance alleged that members of the Armed Forces had been victims of politically motivated court martial, and faced unjust dismissals and forced retirements during the ousted Awami League government鈥檚 tenure.
The alliance recommendations included depoliticisation of the forces to establish a neutral leadership and state-controlled command structures, and inclusion of the judiciary, human rights experts, civil society representatives and retired military officers in the commission.
The recommendations also included investigation of previous incidents of wrongful dismissals of the officials and providing compensation to victims, and ensuring justice under civilian courts by expanding appellate access to military members.
Speakers noted that Article 45 of the constitution limited opportunities for justice for military personnel and pointed to a lack of transparency in the military judicial system.
Amar Desh publisher and editor Mahmudur Rahman, retired brigadier general Md Hasan Nasir, among others, also spoke.