The parliamentary standing committee on foreign ministry in a meeting decided to recommend shaking up the ministry's hierarchy as well as re-organising the country's missions abroad to make them dynamic.

The committee will discuss in detail the ministry's structure in its next meeting.

"The present structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs doesn't suit the needs of time. It should be re-organised in accordance to economic diplomacy," Chairman of the committee Ziaur Rahman Khan told newspersons after the meeting.

"A recruitment policy should also be introduced in the ministry," he added.

The committee has asked the ministry to submit a report on its organisational structure. It will also collect documents on the structure of foreign ministries of some other countries.

The foreign ministry has not been re-organised in the last 32 years, during which the world scenario has changed a lot. Diplomacy now also encompasses economic activities, observed the parliamentary body.

"But, the ministry doesn't admit its failure in service delivery. Rather, it blames financial and logistic limitations. We of course will raise our voice to remove the limitations, but it has to prove its efficiency first," the committee chairman said.

Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan welcomed the committee's suggestions for re-organising his ministry, he added.

Bangladesh has 46 embassy-level missions abroad and 12 more at charge d' affaires level.

Yesterday's meeting also discussed the possibility of expanding trade and manpower export to countries in West Asia, Africa and Central Asia.

Chaired by Ziaur Rahman, the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban was attended by committee members and officials concerned.