Abdul Hafiz (Lieutenant General)

Abdul Hafiz (born 6 November 1957) is a retired lieutenant general of the Bangladesh Army. He was Chief of General Staff, Bangladesh Army. He served as the Force Commander in UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara and Côte d'Ivoire.[1][2][3]

Lieutenant General

Abdul Hafiz
Native name
আবদুল হাফিজ
Born (1957-11-06) 6 November 1957
Allegiance Bangladesh
Service/branch Bangladesh Army
Years of service1977–2014
Rank Lieutenant General
Service numberBA - 1106
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards United Nations Medal
Bishishto Seba Padak (BSP)

Personal life and education

He was born on 6 November 1957.[4] Hafiz is the father of two daughters. He completed his master's degree in defense studies from Bangladesh National University.[1] He completed a course on small and heavy arms of infantry in China and Advanced Infantry Officer's course in the United States of America. He was also graduated from the Defense Intelligence College of France. He can speak in English and French.[4]

Career

In Bangladesh Army

Abdul Hafiz joined the infantry corps as an officer on 8 May 1977. In 2005, he became major general of the Bangladesh Army.[5] He retired from Bangladesh Army shortly after being promoted to lieutenant general.

He became commander of an infantry brigade in 1999. He was commandant of the Bangladesh Military Academy from 2001 to 2003. He also commanded 33rd Infantry Division in Comilla from 2005 to 2008.[4][6] Then he served as the Director-General of Ansar and VDP,[6] a paramilitary organization from 2008 to 2009. He served as the Chief of General Staff in Bangladesh Army.

In UN peacekeeping

General Hafiz was military liaison officer of UNIKOM in Zagreb from 1991 to 1992.[1]

He participated a seminar on the Operations of Peacekeeping Nations held at the Staff College, Camberley in October 1994. In 2006, he attended the 11th Committee on Defense Forum held in Tokyo.[5]

UN mission in Côte d'Ivoire

Hafiz was the chief military liaison officer of United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI) from 2003 to 2004. After then, he served as the Deputy Force Commander of United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) from 2004 to 2005.[4]

In his second mission in Côte d'Ivoire, he has appointed as Force Commander of UNOCI in 2010.[3] He resigned from the post on 22 March 2011 after being accused of releasing secret information to a documentary director. The documentary highlights French interest in its African territory and its war. In his resignation speech, Hafiz said,

We're not in Côte d'Ivoire to kill Ivorians and I, I stop because I do not want to remain in the wrong.[5]

UN mission in Western Sahara

After Côte d'Ivoire mission, again General Hafiz was appointed as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara on 23 July 2011.[7][8] Ban Ki-Moon stated in appointing him,

General Hafiz would bring to this new function, his large experience which he has acquired during his distinguished military career, a part of which was devoted to the operations aiming at maintaining peace in the United Nations.[3]

He was highly appreciated on his tour of MINURSO. On the end of the tour, the official statement was, “The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is grateful to Major General Hafiz for his exemplary service and contribution to the work of MINURSO since July 2011.” [9]

Award

Abdul Hafiz received many awards in his distinguished career. He was awarded the United Nations Medal for his service in MINURSO.[10]

References
  1. "Secretary-General Appoints Major General Abdul Hafiz of Bangladesh as Force Commander for United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara". 2011-07-27. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  2. "Gen Hafiz made force commander". The Daily Star. Dhaka. 2011-07-25. Archived from the original on 2014-11-25. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  3. Haidar, Ali (2011-08-02). "The UN mission forces for the Western Sahara have a new commander". Sahara News. Archived from the original on 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  4. "Abdul HAFIZ Biographie" [Abdul Hafiz Biography]. abidjan.net (in French). Archived from the original on 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  5. "Gen. Abdul Hafiz to Choi: "We Are Not Here to Kill Ivorians! "". Cotedivoire.net. 2011-03-19. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  6. মেজর জেনারেল আব্দুল হাফিজ আবার সেনাবাহিনীতে [Major General Abdul Hafiz again in Army]. snnbd.com (in Bengali). Dhaka. 2012-05-07. Archived from the original on 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  7. "Bangladeshi general to head UN force in Western Sahara". UN News Centre. 2011-07-27. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  8. "New commander at the head of MINURSO". Corcas. 2011-02-08. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  9. "Indonesian major general appointed force commander of UN Western Sahara Mission". UN News Center. 2013-08-27. Archived from the original on 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  10. "Special Representative for Western Sahara awards UN Medal to the Force" (Press release). UN Mission Minurso. 2012-11-27. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
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