From Army to intelligence chief: PM Tarique Rahman orders sweeping Bangladesh Army overhaul days after coming to power

In a sweeping move soon after taking office, Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has approved a major shake-up in the country’s military leadership. The changes were announced within days of Rahman assuming power on February 17 following a decisive election victory.

According to defence ministry sources cited by local media, Lieutenant General M Mainur Rahman has been appointed Chief of General Staff (CGS). He previously headed the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC). He replaces Lieutenant General Mizanur Rahman Shamim, who recently stepped down after retirement.

Another key appointment saw Major General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman elevated to the rank of lieutenant general and named Principal Staff Officer (PSO) at the Armed Forces Division. He earlier commanded the 24th Infantry Division in Chattogram. His predecessor, Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hasan, has been reassigned to the foreign ministry and is expected to take up a diplomatic posting abroad.


Rahman formally conferred the new rank insignia on Mir Mushfiqur Rahman at a ceremony attended by the country’s top military leadership, including Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, and Air Chief Marshal Hassan Mahmud Khan.

The reshuffle also brought major changes in military intelligence. Brigadier General Mohammad Kaisar Rashid Chowdhury has been promoted to major general and appointed Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Bangladesh’s premier military intelligence agency. The outgoing DGFI chief, Major General Mohammad Jahangir Alam, has also been moved to the foreign ministry.

Several important field commands were reassigned as part of the overhaul. Brigadier General Md Hafizur Rahman, who had been serving as defence adviser at Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi, has been promoted to major general and appointed General Officer Commanding of the 55th Infantry Division in Jashore.

Meanwhile, Major General JM Emdadul Islam, who was leading the 55th Division, has been posted as commandant of the East Bengal Regimental Centre. Major General Ferdous Hasan, the previous commandant, will now head the 24th Infantry Division.

Officials said the restructuring affects critical operational formations as well as the military’s intelligence leadership, signalling a broader effort to realign key positions under the new government.

Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath as prime minister after his party secured a two-thirds majority in the February elections, bringing an end to the previous administration’s 18-month tenure.