A parliamentary body yesterday recommended that the armed forces review their laws and regulations and bring necessary amendments to update those and to ensure human rights for military personnel.

The parliamentary standing committee on defence ministry made the suggestion observing that the age old laws of the army, navy and air force do not have the provisions to guarantee human rights for servicemen.

Bangladesh Army in a letter to the parliamentary body said a process is underway to amend the army laws and regulations to "strengthen country's democratic process and ensure its transparency and accountability", said a meeting source.

Bangladesh Navy and Air Force also informed the committee in writing that they are also working to bring amendments to their regulations, the source added.

“We asked the headquarters of the three

forces to review thoroughly the existing laws and regulations and come up with proposals for amendments to make the laws time befitting,” M Idris Ali, chief of the parliamentary body, said after the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

In a press briefing at parliament's Media Centre, Idris, also former defence secretary, said the Army Act 1952, Air Force Act 1953 and Navy Ordinance 1961 were made in light of the colonial armed forces' laws.

“Therefore, the laws should be updated to meet the need of the time,” Idris, also a ruling Awami League lawmaker, said.

He said the committee has received applications from many "deprived" officers and soldiers seeking "justice" on their removal from services during the BNP-Jamaat led alliance government.

Idris said the existing acts for the three forces do not even have the provisions of knowing the reason for the termination of a soldier or staff.

"We have got many letters claiming that the complainants were sacked from service without giving any reason,” said Idris.

He said the committee asked the forces' headquarters to keep human rights in mind while making reform proposals.

The Navy headquarters in their report said it has moved to introduce summary trials against up to commanders, which is currendy up to lieutenants.

It said once introduced, the summary trial up to commanders would bring dynamism and ensure justice in the force.

The report said the navy headquarters had earlier sent a proposal in this regard to the defence ministry, which later sought opinion from the navy. The navy headquarters would soon send its opinion to the ministry.

It has also sent proposals for amendment to the Navy regulations for recruitment

and promotions of honorary sub-lieutenant, honorary lieutenant, master chief petty officer and sailors. The headquarters recommended that the Navy Ordinance 1961 be placed in parliament to upgrade it as Bangladesh Navy Act 2010.

In a report the Air Force headquarters said a process of bringing amendments to the regulation on service age and promotions of the force's officers is underway.

The army headquarters in its letter said they are working on amendment to the army act to keep consistency with various international charters, as Bangladesh government is a signatory to those and to ensure internal discipline at topmost level.

The parliamentary body also discussed the current state of Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARSO) and observed that previous governments have neglected this vital organisation.

The committee asked the authorities concerned to take measures to fill vacant posts in the organisation.

A source in the meeting said the chief of the parliamentary body proposed that SPARSO be brought under the science and ICT ministry from the defence ministry.

In response, a defence ministry official said they would consider the proposal and inform the committee whether it could be done in the next meeting, the source said.

The standing committee also asked SPARSO to conduct a feasibility study on setting up a satellite station or whether the set-up could be done jointly with other south Asian countries.