Defence adviser pushes one rank, one pay reform

Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) Dr AKM Shamsul Islam on Thursday directed the Bangladesh Armed Forces Board to expedite the implementation of the government’s ‘One Rank, One Pay’ (OROP) policy for retired military personnel and move forward with the establishment of Defence Colonies to improve their post-retirement welfare.

During a visit to the Bangladesh Armed Forces Board headquarters at Kakrail in the capital, the defence adviser said the government was committed to ensuring equal pension and pay benefits for retired personnel holding the same rank, regardless of their date of retirement.

He stressed the need to accelerate implementation of the OROP policy to guarantee fair entitlements and improve the welfare of retired members of the armed forces and their families.

The adviser was received by Defence Secretary Md Ashraf Uddin and Director General of the Bangladesh Armed Forces Board Brig Gen Mashrur Hossain Bhuiyan upon his arrival at the board’s headquarters.

Shamsul Islam also instructed the authorities to strengthen Armed Forces Board offices in every district so they could serve as effective centres for welfare activities, social gatherings and support services for retired military personnel. He called for coordinated administrative and logistical planning to enhance the operational capacity of the district offices.

To improve healthcare support, he directed the board to expand the number of medical stores across 61 districts to facilitate access to medicines for retired service members and their families. He also ordered measures to increase the availability of essential life-saving drugs.

Highlighting the importance of dignified rehabilitation after retirement, the defence adviser announced plans to establish Defence Colonies for former armed forces personnel. He said land had already been identified in Thakurgaon, Gaibandha and Dinajpur districts and instructed officials to begin implementation of the project in those locations.

He further emphasised the need to ensure dignified funeral and burial arrangements for retired service members in recognition of their contribution to the nation. He directed the Bangladesh Armed Forces Board to play a more active role in supporting funeral rites and to strengthen the necessary administrative and logistical arrangements for the purpose.

Officials and employees of the Bangladesh Armed Forces Board were present during the visit.