PM approves proposal for reform of frontier force
Friday September 18 2009 00:00:00 AM BDT
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given her consent to reforms in mutiny stricken Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), renaming the paramilitary frontier force as Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) with a new combat uniform, officials said here on Thursday.(BSS, Dhaka)
A senior official familiar with the situation told BSS that under the reform or reconstitution plan a huge number of retired army personnel would be inducted in lower ranks of the frontier force on a "makeshift basis".
The official, who preferred anonymity, said the decision was taken to fill up the vacuum to be created following the trial and conviction of BDR men who would be found involved in the February 25-26 mutiny when 57 army officers serving the border force on deputation were killed.
"The Prime Minister has given her consent to an amended proposal for BDR reforms on late Tuesday while the decision would now be implemented gradually with engagement of home, law and other concerned ministries," said the official.
He said in line with the proposed reforms, army officers would lead the paramilitary border guards on deputation like the previous, while BGB would now have four regional headquarters to be headed by a brigadier general while officers from navy and air force too would now be posted in the frontier force on deputation alongside army.
The official said the reconstituted frontier force would have reduced service length for the soldiers and other rankers having required qualification and age and could be inducted as regular commissioned officers of BGB with six months of training in Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA).
The soldiers retiring age would now be 45 while the JCOs would retire at the age of 57 while their recruitment age was also re-fixed at 17-19 years instead of 17-23 years.
The revised system of the paramilitary force would also promote departmental junior commissioned officers (JCOs) as "honorary" deputy assistant directors or "honorary" assistant directors with the rank insignia of honorary lieutenants or honorary captains.
Previously they were promoted simply as deputy assistant directors or assistant directors.
The roughed BDR soldiers had claimed a sense of "deprivation" prompted them to stage the mutiny while the demanded the frontier force should be freed from military domination.
The official said the border guards would now have 16 sectors, forming two new ones for the southeastern hills and northwestern regions, while the average distance of their border outposts would be as long as five kilometers and they would be equipped with motorbikes for patrolling in their new deep and light brown combat outfits.
The Premier's consent came days after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Ministry blasted BDR chief Major General Mainul Islam for his decision to use a proposed new name and new uniform ahead of the final government approval, in a bid to free the frontier guards from the stigma of the February 25- 26 mutiny.
http://newsfrombangladesh.net/view.php?hidRecord=285331
BDR to be renamed as BGB
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