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Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)

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Not to be confused with Chief of Defence Staff (Bangladesh).

Chief of Army Staff
সেনাবাহিনী প্রধান
Crest of the Chief of Army Staff
Flag of the Chief of Army Staff
Incumbent
General Waker-Uz-Zaman
since 23 June 2024
 Bangladesh Army
TypeBangladesh Army service chief
AbbreviationCAS
Member ofNational Committee on Security Affairs
Reports to President
Chief Adviser
ResidenceSena Bhaban, Dhaka Cantonment
SeatDhaka Cantonment
AppointerThe Prime Minister
with President advice and consent
Term length3 years,
Constituting instrumentThe Army Act, 1952 of (Act No. XXXIX OF 1952)
Formation12 April 1971; 54 years ago (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
Websitearmy.mil.bd

The Chief of Army Staff (CAS; Bengali: সেনাবাহিনী প্রধান, romanized: Śenabahini Prodhan) is the commander of the Bangladesh Army.[1][2][3] The Chief of Army staff has been a four-star rank since 2007. Prior to that, the Chief of Army Staff was a three-star rank from 1978 to 2007. During the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, Major general M. A. Rab was the Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army under the combined command of Bangladesh Forces which served as the origins of Bangladesh Armed Forces and General M. A. G. Osmani was the Commander-in-Chief.[4] 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.[5] The incumbent Chief of Army Staff is General Waker-Uz-Zaman.[6][7]

The office of the Chief of Army Staff functions from the Army Headquarters, which is located in the Dhaka Cantonment.[8]

History

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The post traces its roots back to the Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh War of Independence and it was held by Colonel (later General) MAG Osmani. On 25 March 1971, after long negotiations and actions failed to bring desired results, Pakistan Army launched a military crackdown on its own citizens, Pakistani military planners conducted this through Operation Searchlight, which spread across the country in main centers. During the first watch of 26 March 1971, the Independence of Bangladesh was declared.[9][10][11] Another declaration was read out on 27 March 1971, by then Major Ziaur Rahman, on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman over radio at Kalurghat Radio Stn., Chittagong City.[12] As a result, in March 1971, many Bengali soldiers in the Pakistan Army revolted and joined the guerilla movement, Bangladesh Forces. Colonel (later General) Mohd. Ataul Goni Osmani served as the commander-in-chief and Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Mohd. Abdur Rab as the chief of staff.[4]

The Bangladesh Army was officially raised in January 1972. In April 1972, 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 1972, Maj. Gen. K M Shafiullah, was made the chief of army staff.[13][14]

Chief of Army Staff's rank was upgraded to lieutenant-general in 1978 and then to four-star general in 2007.[15]

Appointees

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The following table chronicles the appointees, to the office of the Chief of Army Staff or its preceding positions since the independence war of Bangladesh.[16][17][18]

Commander-in-Chief, Mukti Bahini (1971–1972)

[edit]
No. Picture Commander-in-Chief Took office Left office Time in office Unit 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 daysArmy Service Corps[19]

Chief of staff, Mukti Bahini (1971–1972)

[edit]
No. Picture Chief of staff Took office Left office Time in office Unit of Commission
1
Mohammad Abdur Rab Bir Uttom
Abdur Rab, MohammadMajor General
Mohammad Abdur Rab Bir Uttom
(1919–1975)		11 July 19716 April 1972270 daysArmy Service Corps

Chiefs of Army staff (1971–present)

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Source:[1]

No. Picture Chief of Army Staff Took office Left office Time in office Unit of Commission
1
M. A. G. Osmani psc
Osmani, M. A. G.General
M. A. G. Osmani psc
(1918–1984)		12 April 19716 April 19721 year, 24 daysArmy Service Corps[19]
2
Kazi Muhammad Shafiullah Bir Uttom, psc
Shafiullah, KaziMajor general
Kazi Muhammad Shafiullah Bir Uttom, psc
(1934–2025)		7 April 197225 August 19753 years, 140 daysEast Bengal Regiment
3
Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttom, psc
Rahman, ZiaurMajor general
Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttom, psc
(1936–1981)		25 August 19753 November 197570 daysEast Bengal Regiment
-
Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttom, psc
Mosharraf, KhaledMajor general
Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttom, psc
(1937–1975)		3 November 19757 November 1975 †4 daysEast Bengal Regiment
(3)
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
4
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
5
Atiqur Rahman G+
Rahman, AtiqurLieutenant general
Atiqur Rahman G+
(1931–2023)		31 August 198630 August 19903 years, 364 daysRegiment of Artillery
6
Nuruddin Khan psc
Khan, NuruddinLieutenant general
Nuruddin Khan psc
(born 1940)		31 August 199030 August 19943 years, 364 daysCorps of Engineers
7
Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim Bir Bikrom, psc
Nasim, Abu SalehLieutenant general
Abu Saleh Mohammad Nasim Bir Bikrom, psc
(born 1943)		31 August 199419 May 19961 year, 262 daysEast Bengal Regiment
8
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman psc
Rahman, MuhammadLieutenant general
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman psc		27 May 199623 December 19971 year, 210 daysCorps of Engineers
9
Mustafizur Rahman Bir Bikrom, ndc, psc, C
Rahman, MustafizurGeneral
Mustafizur Rahman Bir Bikrom, ndc, psc, C
(1941–2008)		24 December 199723 December 20002 years, 365 daysCorps of Engineers
10
Mohammed Harun-Ar-Rashid Bir Protik, rcds, psc
Harun, MLieutenant general
Mohammed Harun-Ar-Rashid Bir Protik, rcds, psc
(1948–2025)		24 December 200015 June 20021 year, 173 daysEast Bengal Regiment
11
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
12
Moeen Uddin Ahmed ndc, psc
Ahmed, MoeenGeneral
Moeen Uddin Ahmed ndc, psc
(born 1953)		16 June 200515 June 20093 years, 364 daysEast Bengal Regiment
13
Mohammed Abdul Mubeen ndc, psc
Ahmed, MoeenGeneral
Mohammed Abdul Mubeen ndc, psc
(born 1957)		16 June 200925 June 20123 years, 9 daysEast Bengal Regiment
14
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan psc
Bhuiyan, IqbalGeneral
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan psc
(born 1957)		26 June 201225 June 20152 years, 364 daysEast Bengal Regiment
15
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
16
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, 364 daysRegiment of Artillery
17
SM Shafiuddin Ahmed SBP, OSP, ndu, psc, PhD
Shafiuddin Ahmed, SMGeneral
SM Shafiuddin Ahmed SBP, OSP, ndu, psc, PhD
(born 1963)		24 June 202123 June 20242 years, 365 daysEast Bengal Regiment
18
Waker-Uz-Zaman OSP, SGP, psc
Zaman,Waker-UzGeneral
Waker-Uz-Zaman OSP, SGP, psc
(born 1966)		23 June 2024Incumbent1 year, 47 daysEast Bengal Regiment

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "List of Chief of Army Staff". Bangladesh Army. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Major General Moeen U Ahmed new Army Chief". bdnews24.com. 5 June 2005. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh appoints Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan as new Army Chief". Firstpost. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Stripping ex-army chief Mustafizur Rahman of rank illegal: HC". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Shafiullah: The blunted General". The Business Standard. 15 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Chief of Army Staff - Bangladesh Army". Bangladesh Army.
  7. ^ "General Waker-Uz-Zaman takes charge as Chief of Army Staff". The Financial Express. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Gen Mubeen takes over army". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 15 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  9. ^ "Bangabandhu Shadhinota Ghoshonar Telegraphic Barta". BDNews24. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  10. ^ সংযোজনস্বাধীনতার ঘোষণা: বেলাল মোহাম্মদের সাক্ষাৎকার. bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  11. ^ "The Sheikh Mujib Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh: U.S. Government Records and Media Documentation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  12. ^ "March 27, 1971: Zia makes radio announcement on independence". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Timeline". The Daily Star. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Shafiullah new chairman of sector commanders forum". bdnews24.com. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Bangladesh Armed Forces elite promoted". Dawn. Agence France-Presse. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  16. ^ Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Mukti Bahini". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  17. ^ "O General, My General". The Daily Star. 1 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Bir Uttam Abdur Rab's 46th death anniversary Sunday". The Business Standard. 13 November 2021.
  19. ^ a b Indian Army List for July 1941. Government of India Press. 1941. p. 1000.
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