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The government has invited fresh applications from military officers who claim they were subjected to discrimination, injustice or victimisation during their service in the Army, Navy and Air Force between 2009 and August 4, 2024, under the previous Awami League government.
The directive was issued in a notification signed by Defence Secretary Md Ashraf Uddin on Thursday and took immediate effect.
According to the notification, retired, removed, discharged, dismissed and terminated officers who suffered alleged discrimination during the specified period are eligible to apply.
Officers who did not previously submit applications to boards formed by the respective service headquarters or to the interim government’s review committee may now apply.
Those whose earlier applications could not be considered for any reason have also been given another opportunity.
Applicants have been asked to submit their applications to the headquarters of their respective services by August 10.
After scrutiny, the review committee must submit its final recommendations to the Defence Minister by December 1.
The move comes just a week after the government granted normal retirement and retrospective promotions to 150 officers, including Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, son of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam. Under that decision, the officers were also made eligible for arrears of salary, allowances and other financial benefits.
To examine the fresh applications, the Defence Ministry has formed a seven-member high-level committee headed by a Lieutenant General of the Bangladesh Army.
The committee also includes a Major General from the Army, a Rear Admiral from the Navy, an Air Vice Marshal from the Air Force, an Additional Secretary of the Defence Ministry and a Brigadier General from the Armed Forces Division.
Another Brigadier General from the Army will serve as the committee’s member secretary.
The notification said the committee chairman may include additional members if necessary.
The committee will review all newly submitted applications, as well as previously filed applications that could not be examined by either the service headquarters’ boards or the interim government’s committee.
It will prepare recommendations after carefully reviewing documents and interviewing applicants, while giving due consideration to humanitarian aspects of each case.
The notification specifies that only applications relating to the period from 2009 to August 4, 2024 will be considered.
Earlier, the interim government had formed a high-level committee to review allegations of discrimination against military officers during the Awami League administration. According to media reports, more than 1,000 serving and retired military personnel submitted applications to that committee.