The Bangladesh Army has announced a major reshuffle in several key positions at its top command level, including the Chief of General Staff (CGS), the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, and the Director General (DG) of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). The orders were issued from Army Headquarters on Sunday afternoon.
Kamrul Hasan Removed as PSO
Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hasan has been relieved of his duties as Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division and has been assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparation for appointment as an ambassador. He served as the 17th PSO of the Armed Forces Division.
According to various sources, Kamrul Hasan had faced criticism over alleged political leanings and controversies during his tenure. Observers believe that these allegations contributed to his removal from the key post.
Major General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman has been appointed as the new PSO. He has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general for the role. Prior to this appointment, he served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 24 Infantry Division in Chattogram.
New DGFI Chief
Changes have also been made at the top of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), one of the country’s principal intelligence agencies. Brigadier General Mohammad Kaisar Rashid Chowdhury has been promoted to major general and appointed as the new Director General of DGFI.
The incumbent DGFI chief, Major General Mohammad Jahangir Alam, has been assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparation for a diplomatic posting as ambassador.
New Chief of General Staff
Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman, who had been serving as the GOC of the Army Research, Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC), has been appointed as the new Chief of General Staff (CGS). He succeeds outgoing CGS Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim, who recently retired from service.
Changes in Field Commands
In addition to the top-level reshuffle, several changes have been made in field commands.
Brigadier General Md. Hafizur Rahman, who had been serving as Defence Adviser at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, has been promoted to major general and appointed as the GOC of the 55 Infantry Division in Khulna.
The current GOC of the 55 Infantry Division, Major General JM Imdadul Islam, has been transferred as Commandant of the East Bengal Regimental Centre (EBRC) in Chattogram. Meanwhile, Major General Ferdous Hasan, who had been serving as Commandant of EBRC, has been appointed as the GOC of the 24 Infantry Division in Chattogram.
The reshuffle marks one of the most significant reorganizations of the Bangladesh Army’s senior leadership in recent times.
