The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh is discussing with India and Myanmar on fixing the maritime boundary.

This was informed at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence Ministry at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Thursday, an official handout said here.

The meeting recommended to buy a modern oceanic hydrographic survey vessel to protect the country's maritime boundary and carry out survey activities.

It also laid emphasis on the technical development of the Bangladesh Ordinance Factory and the Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory to use the local technology and infrastructure for manufacturing ammunition and equipment to reduce dependence on imports. Besides, the meeting, recommended steps to manufacture modern arms.

The meeting also discussed about the problems of the Bangladesh Army and its possible remedies. The committee issued directives to the concerned authority to place the draft defence policy before the committee in its next meeting.

It was informed at the meeting that there are 8,083 Bangladeshi peace keepers working under 11 UN peace keeping missions in 10 foreign countries.

Presided over by Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee M Idris Ali, the meeting was attended by its members Mujibul Huq, Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Manzur Kader Quershi. MA Mannan attended the meeting as a representative of the Prime Minister.

Chief of the Army General Moin U Ahmed, Chief of the Naval Staff Read Admiral ZU Ahmed, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Tauhid Hossain and Lieutenant General Mubin of the Armed Forces Division were present.

At the beginning, the meeting condoled the death of eminent nuclear scientist Dr MA Wazed Mia.