Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)

Chief of Army Staff (CAS) (Bengali: সেনাবাহিনী প্রধান, romanized: Senabahini Prodhan) of Bangladesh Army, also known as Army Chief, is the highest-ranking officer of the Bangladesh Army.[1][2] The Chief of Army staff has been a four-star rank since 2007. Maj. Gen. M. A. Rab (the then Lt Col) was the Chief of Staff Army under the combined command of Bangladesh Forces which served as the origins of Bangladesh Armed Forces.[3] After the War of Independence Bangladesh Army was officially reverted to the Ministry of Defense in 1972 and Maj. Gen. K. M. Shafiullah was appointed the Chief of Army Staff. The current Chief of Army Staff is Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmed

Chief of Army Staff
সেনাবাহিনী প্রধান (Bengali)
Crest of the Chief of Army Staff
Flag of the Chief of Army Staff
Incumbent
General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed
since 24 June 2021
 Bangladesh Army
TypeBangladesh Army service chief
AbbreviationCAS
Member of
Reports to Prime Minister
Minister of Defence
ResidenceSena Bhaban, Dhaka Cantonment
SeatArmy Headquarter, Dhaka Cantonment
AppointerPrime Minister
with President advice and consent
Term length3 years, or at the age of 60, whichever is earlier.
Constituting instrumentThe Army Act, 1952 of (Act No. XXXIX OF 1952)
PrecursorCommander-in-chief of Mukti Bahini
Chief of staff of Mukti Bahini
Formation12 April 1971 (1971-04-12)
First holderGeneral M. A. G. Osmani (Commander-in-chief)
Major General Mohammad Abdur Rab (Chief of staff)
Unofficial namesArmy Chief
DeputyChief of the General Staff
Salary৳ 100,000 Monthly
(US$ 1,175)
৳ 12,00,000 annually
(US$ 14,104)
Websitearmy.mil.bd

The office of the Chief of Army Staff functions from the Army Headquarters, which is located in the Dhaka Cantonment.[4]

History

The Bangladesh Army traced its roots back to the East Bengal Regiment composed solely of youths of East Bengal, then East Pakistan. However, on 25 March 1971, after long negotiations and actions failed to bring desired results mistrust toky precedence. Pakistan Armed Forces led a military crackdown on its own citizens, certain sections of people in East Pakistan (E. Bengal). There were civilian deaths and casualties also. Pakistan military planners conducted this through Operation Searchlight, which spread across the country in main centers. During the first watch of 26th March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the Independence of Bangladesh.[5][6][7] Another declaration was read out on 27 March 1971, by Major Ziaur Rahman, on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman over radio at Kalurghat Radio Stn., Chittagong city.[8] As a result, in March 1971, many Bengali soldiers in the Pakistan Army revolted and joined the guerilla movement, Bangladesh Forces. Colonel Mohd. Ataul Goni Osmani served as the Commander-in-Chief and Lieutenant colonel Mohd. Abdur Rab as the Chief of Staff.[3]

Bangladesh Army came into being officially in January, 1972. In April, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman then decided to change the commanding posts of the three services which was combined and commanded by General M. A. G. Osmani. On 7 April, Maj. Gen. K M Shafiullah, was made the chief of army staff.[9][10]

Chief of Army Staff's rank was upgraded to lieutenant-general in 1978 and then to four star general in 2007.[11][12]

Appointees

The following table chronicles the appointees to the office of the Chief of Army Staff or its preceding positions since the Bangladesh Liberation War. Ranks and honours are as at the completion of their tenure:

Commander-in-Chief, Mukti Bahini (1971–1972)
No. Picture Commander-in-ChiefTook officeLeft officeTime in officeUnit of Commission
1
M. A. G. Osmani psc
Osmani, M. A. G.General
M. A. G. Osmani psc
(1918–1984)		12 April 19716 April 1972360 daysRoyal Indian Army Service Corps[13]

Chief of staff, Mukti Bahini (1971–1972)
No. Picture Chief of staffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeUnit of Commission
1
Mohammad Abdur Rab Bir Uttom
Abdur Rab, MohammadMajor General
Mohammad Abdur Rab Bir Uttom
(1919–1975)		12 April 19716 April 1972360 days

Chiefs of Army staff (1972–present)
No. Picture Chief of Army StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeUnit of Commission
1
Kazi Muhammad Shafiullah Bir Uttom, psc
Shafiullah, KaziMajor general
Kazi Muhammad Shafiullah Bir Uttom, psc
(born 1934)		7 April 197225 August 19753 years, 140 daysEast Bengal Regiment
2
Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttom, psc
Rahman, ZiaurMajor general
Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttom, psc
(1936–1981)		25 August 19753 November 197570 daysEast Bengal Regiment
3
Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttom, psc
Mosharraf, KhaledMajor general
Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttom, psc
(1937–1975)		3 November 19757 November 1975 †4 daysEast Bengal Regiment
4
Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttom, psc
Rahman, ZiaurLieutenant general
Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttom, psc
(1936–1981)		7 November 197528 April 19782 years, 172 daysEast Bengal Regiment
5
Hussain Muhammad Ershad ndc, psc
Ershad, Hussain MuhammadLieutenant general
Hussain Muhammad Ershad ndc, psc
(1930–2019)		29 April 197830 August 19868 years, 123 daysEast Bengal Regiment
6
Atiqur Rahman G+
Ershad, Hussain MohammadLieutenant general
Atiqur Rahman G+
(born 1931)		31 August 198630 August 19903 years, 364 daysRegiment of Artillery
7
Nuruddin Khan psc
Khan, NuruddinLieutenant general
Nuruddin Khan psc		31 August 199030 August 19943 years, 364 daysCorps of Engineers
8
Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim Bir Bikrom, psc
Nasim, Abu SalehLieutenant general
Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim Bir Bikrom, psc
(born 1946)		31 August 199419 May 19961 year, 262 daysEast Bengal Regiment
9
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman psc
Rahman, MuhammadLieutenant general
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman psc		27 May 199623 December 19971 year, 217 daysCorps of Engineers
10
Mustafizur Rahman Bir Bikrom, ndc, psc, C
Rahman, MustafizurLieutenant general
Mustafizur Rahman Bir Bikrom, ndc, psc, C
(1941–2008)		24 December 199723 December 20002 years, 365 daysCorps of Engineers
11
Mohammed Harun-Ar-Rashid Bir Protik, rcds, psc
Harun, MLieutenant general
Mohammed Harun-Ar-Rashid Bir Protik, rcds, psc		24 December 200015 June 20021 year, 173 daysEast Bengal Regiment
12
Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury awc, psc
Chowdhury, HasanLieutenant general
Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury awc, psc
(born 1948)		16 June 200215 June 20052 years, 364 daysEast Bengal Regiment
13
Moeen Uddin Ahmed ndc, psc
Ahmed, MoeenGeneral
Moeen Uddin Ahmed ndc, psc
(born 1953)		16 June 200515 June 20093 years, 364 daysEast Bengal Regiment
14
Mohammed Abdul Mubeen ndc, psc
Ahmed, MoeenGeneral
Mohammed Abdul Mubeen ndc, psc
(born 1955)		16 June 200925 June 20123 years, 9 daysEast Bengal Regiment
15
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan psc
Bhuiyan, IqbalGeneral
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan psc
(born 1955)		26 June 201225 June 20152 years, 364 daysEast Bengal Regiment
16
Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haq ndc, psc
Huq, ShafiulGeneral
Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Haq ndc, psc
(born 1958)		26 June 201525 June 20182 years, 364 daysArmoured Corps
17
Aziz Ahmed SBP, BSP, BGBM, PBGM, BGBMS, psc, G
Ahmed, AzizGeneral
Aziz Ahmed SBP, BSP, BGBM, PBGM, BGBMS, psc, G
(born 1961)		25 June 201824 June 20212 years, 363 daysRegiment of Artillery
18
SM Shafiuddin Ahmed SBP, OSP, ndu, psc, PhD
Shafiuddin Ahmed, SMGeneral
SM Shafiuddin Ahmed SBP, OSP, ndu, psc, PhD
(born 1963)		24 June 2021Incumbent2 years, 123 daysEast Bengal Regiment

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh).

References
  1. "Major General Moeen U Ahmed new Army Chief". bdnews24.com. 5 June 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  2. "Bangladesh appoints Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan as new Army Chief". First Post. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  3. "Stripping ex-army chief Mustafizur Rahman of rank illegal: HC". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  4. "Gen Mubeen takes over army". The Daily Star. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  5. "Bangabandhu Shadhinota Ghoshonar Telegraphic Barta". BDNews24. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  6. সংযোজনস্বাধীনতার ঘোষণা: বেলাল মোহাম্মদের সাক্ষাৎকার. bdnews24.com.
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "March 27, 1971: Zia makes radio announcement on independence". The Daily Star. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  9. "TIMELINE". The Daily Star (newspaper). 15 August 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  10. "Shafiullah new chairman of sector commanders forum". 19 September 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  11. Mascarenhas, Anthony. Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood. Hodder and Stoughton.
  12. "Bangladesh Armed Forces elite promoted". Dawn. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  13. Indian Army List for July 1941. Government of India Press. 1941. p. 1000.
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