Dhaka, Sept. 30 -- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday recommended modernising Bangladesh's armed forces by replacing outdated machinery and other equipment with advanced defence systems.

It also recommended ensuring postings in the armed forces based on merit, efficiency and competence.

The recommendations were made at the first meeting of the committee, held at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with its Chairman Md Ashraf Uddin in the chair.

In his welcome speech, the committee chairman paid tribute to members of the armed forces who sacrificed their lives while performing duties in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, United Nations peacekeeping missions and other assignments.

He said the...