Parliament last night passed the bill titled, “The Defense Forces Chiefs' (appointment, salary, allowances and other benefits) Bill 2018”, to fix maximum four-year tenure of the chiefs of the country's three defence services.

Law Minister Anisul Huq, who is in-charge of defence ministry in parliament affairs, placed the bill passed by voice vote.

Pointing to the aims and objectives of the bill, the law minister said, though there is a provision in the Article 62 of the Constitution that parliament shall enact a law over fixation of the appointment of the chiefs of staff of the defence services and their salaries and allowances, the law is yet to be enacted despite many years have elapsed.

Traditionally, the chiefs of staff of the three forces are appointed for three years.

The appointment is made by the order of the president while their salaries and allowances are provided as per the Joint Services Instruction approved by the government.

With the passage of the bill, the President Order of 2016 related to appointment and tenure of the chiefs of three services and the part of the Joint Services Instruction, which is related to their salaries and allowances, will stand lapsed.

As per the bill, the chiefs of army, navy and air force will be appointed for maximum four-year tenure from the date of their appointment and their salary will be fixed at Tk 86,000.

They will get other allowances, outfit allowance, special residential facilities and all-time transport facilities plus other allowances.