Lt. General Md Mahfuzur Rahman (Retd.)

Md Mahfuzur Rahman (born 1 December 1961) is a retired Bangladeshi general. He was a lieutenant general and the former Principal Staff Officer (PSO) under Prime Minister’s Office and head of Armed Forces Division.

 

Early life and education

He was born on 1 December 1961 in Rajshahi district. He was a cadet of Jhenidah cadet college. In 1981 he graduated from Bangladesh Military Academy and was commissioned from 5th Long Course into the Corps of Infantry. He completed further studies in Staff College and Armed Forces War Course at Mirpur. He is a former adjutant general at army headquarters.

He is a graduate of Defence Services Command and Staff College and Armed Forces War Course, Mirpur Bangladesh. He is also an alumnus of National Defence College, India (New Delhi) and Royal College of Defence Studies, UK (London). He completed master’s degrees in defence studies (MDS), war studies (MWS) and business administration (MBA). He has also obtained an M.Phil. from Madras University, India and PhD from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh.

He has edited a book, Indo-Bangladesh Trade Relations, and his second book, Non-Traditional Security Strategy for Addressing Trans-border Crime in Bangladesh, is awaiting publication.

 

Military career

He commanded one infantry battalion, two infantry brigades and one infantry division of the Bangladesh Army. He has served as brigade major and general staff officer grade one and director military operations in the headquarters of the Bangladesh Army. He has also served as instructor in the Bangladesh Military Academy, directing the Staff of War Course at the National Defence College. He has also served as a commandant in Defence Service Command & Staff College and commandant in the School of Infantry & Tactics of the Bangladesh Army. He has served as the Adjutant General of the Bangladesh Army and vice chairman of Trust Bank.

 

UN mission

Rahman has served in peace support operations under United Nations in Mozambique and Sierra-Leone.

 

Ashab Uddin (general)

Ashab Uddin (born 28 October 1958) is a retired major general of the Bangladesh Army. He has also served as Bangladesh's ambassador to Kuwait and Yemen.

 

Early life

Ashab Uddin was born on 28 October 1958 in Matijura village of Tilpara union in Beanibazar, Sylhet. He married Farha Asab Chowdhury on 29 February 1988. The couple has a daughter, Faria, and a son, Farhan.

He passed SSC and HSC from Faujdarhat Cadet College. He graduated from University of Chittagong. He holds postgraduate and postgraduate defense studies from the Department of Political Science at the National University. He holds a master's degree in national and international strategic studies (MPhil) from the University of Madras, India.

He completed several courses, including a military science course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College and an army staff course in Pakistan. He completed the reserve component in 1996, the special forces operation in 2003, and the senior executive course in the United States in 2008.

 

Career

Ashab Uddin was commissioned in the Bangladesh Army in 1979 in the first regular batch. He commanded two infantry battalions, two infantry brigades and served as general officer commanding (GOC) of two infantry divisions, and area commander of Savar and Chittagong areas. He also served as the director military training and military secretary in Army HQ. He was also the commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College. He retired from the Bangladesh Army in 2016.

He served as the ambassador of Bangladesh to the embassy in Kuwait and Yemen from 17 August 2013 to 2016. He was the president of Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation and also the president of Bhatiary Golf & Country Club and Savar Golf Club.

 

UN mission

He has taken part in UN peacekeeping operations in Mozambique as a peacekeeper.

 

Award

United Nations Peacekeeping Medal

 

Maj Gen M Ashab Uddin, former Ambassador of Bangladesh National and International Strategic Course, National Defence College, New Delhi.

General

The work life of Major General Mohammad Ashab Uddin ndc, psc (Retd) had a perfect blend of top notch professional military officer as well as a capable and efficient diplomat in ensuring the interest of the country.

Commencing from the last, during his tenure as an Ambassador, he had skillfully welded a strong relation between Bangladesh and Kuwait with honesty and commitment. He was involved in very challenging tasks to protect national interest in challenging environment of 21st Century to safeguard and to promote the interest, enhance bilateral relations with host countries, support peace and stability in contemporary global issues as per foreign policy objectives of Bangladesh. Due to his proactive diplomacy the Prime Minister of Kuwait visited Bangladesh in March 2016. He also simultaneously accredited as Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Republic of Yemen.

The General has Thirty Six years of leadership, administration, planning, management and command experience in the military. Distinguished record of success under demanding environment and crises management.

He has broad varieties of experience in staff functions, education and training (planning, organization and implementation), HR management at large military formations (50,000 employees strong), UN peace keeping operation, internal security/ administration (in aid to the civil administration), organization/ management of unprivileged ethnic groups' special development programs, national level disaster management, preparation of government sponsored digitized electoral roll & national identity card, education management (highest leadership at undergrad and post-graduate level institutions), management of leading golf courses of the country, governance of national level training/educational institutions etc.

Possesses excellent problem solving and communication skills with a strong ability to conceptualize and execute initiatives requiring effective decision-making, project management and team work. Proven ability to create a trusted environment with colleagues and partners. Successfully established new and restructured existing organizations to be more efficient and responsive to mission requirements. Effective in building coalitions in cross-cultural environment.

 

Experience

Involved in teaching as Adjunct Professor IUB & as Sr AdviserRG

 

Self employed

Appointment-Ambassador (2013-2016)

Ambassador to State of Kuwait (Resident) and Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen

 

Kuwait

Involved in very challenging tasks to protect national interest in challenging environment of 21st Century to safeguard and promote the interest, enhance bilateral relations with host countries, support peace and stability in contemporary global issues as per Foreign Policy Objectives of Bangladesh. Due to his proactive diplomacy the Prime Minister of Kuwait visited Bangladesh in March 2016.

As Ambassador he undertook numbers of initiatives and welfare projects / activities for the large Bangladeshi expatriates residing in host countries.

 

Organizations

Notable Crises Management

l Took lot of initiative to ensure welfare of the Bangladeshi expatriates and enhanced bilateral relation as Ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait. After long 7 years, work visa for Bangladesh personnel resumed.

l Developed excellent relation between Bangladesh and Republic of Yemen as Ambassador accredited. Nominated as a member of ‘Contact Group’ for political solution by OIC.

l Handling and provide leadership and decision making at National level during Emergency period of 2007-2008 as General Officer Commanding (GOC), 9 Infantry Division, Savar.

l Key player to plan and implement pilot project under his direct supervision of National Voter List at Sripur, Gazipur district which ultimately paved the way for nationwide preparation of voter list.

l Key planner of National ID Card under the same National Voter List Project.

l Supervision of development and administration of ten administrative districts of central part of Bangladesh.

l Ensured proper and fair election of ten districts in central part of Bangladesh during national parliamentary election in December 2008.

l Ensured complete law and order situation of the area of responsibility during national election

l Handling and management of BDR Carnage of 25th February 2009 as GOC, 9 Infantry Division, Savar.

l Commanding the complements of major army and other security forces approximately 54000 personal under post treaty conflict environment and ensured communal harmony, peace and development in CHT from 2010 - 2012.

l Very successfully carried out the responsibility and repatriation of Bangladeshi citizen from Yemen without any casualty when the war out broke in 2015 as Ambassador.

 

 

 

Special Duties

He has commanded two infantry battalions, two infantry brigades and was General Officer Commanding (GOC) of two Infantry Divisions and Area Commander, Savar and Chittagong Area. He was also the Director Military training, Military Secretary at Army Headquarters, Commandant of Defense Services Command and Staff College.

b. Managed, administered, motivated and developed human resources of Bangladesh Army as commander, leader and mentor at field to strategic level.

c. Participated in national affairs, such as, election monitoring, restoring law and order situation, anti corruption drive, arms recovery and different humanitarian, social and economic development program in planning, execution, assisting civil administration and monitoring at field to strategic level.

d. Participated in disaster management and humanitarian assistance to victims of flood, cyclone, storm, building collapsed and accident in planning, execution and monitoring at field to strategic level.

e. Planned, led, executed and monitored different operation, pacification program and social economic development of the people, peace and communal harmony in the area and participated in formulation and implementation of policy in Post Treaty Counter Insurgency Operation in Chittagong Hill Tracts at field to strategic level.

f. Planned, organized and executed training, seminar, symposium, study period, presentation and preparing reading materials and education program, for officers and soldiers in different military formation and training institution as commander and instructor at field to strategic level.

g. Participated in education program of different school and colleges of cantonments as volunteer teacher, planner, organizer, monitor and administrator in the appointment of member and chairman of Governing body and Chief Patron.

Area Commander and General Officer Commanding (Major General)

24 Infantry Division, Chittagong, Bangladesh

• February 2010 –October 2012 (02 years 10 months) 24 Infantry Division, Chittagong, Bangladesh (53,000+employees).

• Leadership of the military formation (Division/50,000(+) strength of army, air force and paramilitary forces'[(BGB, Police, Armed Police, Ansar &VDP) components], deployed in post counter insurgency operations under complex scenario.

• Strategic level decision making in conflict environment, ensured peace and harmony among thirteen types of tribes including Bengali population.

• Media management and civil-military operations.

• Planning and conduct of projects related to socio-economic and cultural development of the ethnic minority population of the country in South East region, particularly Chittagong Hill Tracts..

• Operation and management of vital seaport of the country under severe political crisis/labour unrest.

• In Aid to the Civil Administration [active support to the functioning of government's order & instructions, institutions, and administration in the Southeast Region of the Country]

 

Commandant (Major General)

Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

• Design, organize and conduct Master of Science (MSc) program under government accredited ‘University of Professionals’ for mid-level defense officers of home and abroad (in average 50 overseas students attended the program with each batch).

• Conduct and participated in organizing class, presentation, seminar, discussion on command and leadership, crisis/conflict management, disaster management in particular.

 

Central Military Region: As Area Commander and General Officer Commanding (Major General) Dhaka, Bangladesh

• March 2007-March 2009 (2 years) 9th Infantry Division, Dhaka, Bangladesh (20,000+employees)

• Leadership, command, administration and management of Central regional military area and infantry division, approximately 25,000 officers/soldiers/ employee.

• Regional (10 Districts) in-charge of the caretaker Government under national state of emergency.

• Planning and preparation of electoral roll and national identity card for approximately 12 million voters.

• Disaster management, agricultural development, electric power saving projects, 'feeding the hungry people', housing the homeless etc.

• Planning, organization and conduct of election security operations in the region during the 9th National Parliamentary Election in December 2008.

 

United Nations Peace Keeping Mission

Chief Personnel Officer (ONUMOZ): United Nations Operations in Mozambique

As UN Peace Keeper, employed in Mozambique and was responsible for planning, coordination and supervision of UN troops from 23 countries over 5500 personnel in respect of administration, leave, finance, ceremonial aspects. Coordination with host Govt official and other IO's/NGO's on various peace keeping operations / mission's related issues.

 

 

 

Education

National defense college of New Delhi

National and international strategic course National and international stre 1st class

Defense Services Command and Staff College, Dhaka

Army Staff Course Qualified with degree "psc"

 

Faujderhat Cadet College

Secondary School Certificate & Higher Secondary Certificate

National Defense University, Washington

senior executive functioning, planning and policy making

Subject concerning global peace and areas of conflict around the globe.

National university of Bangladesh

Masters on defense studies 1st class

Activities and Society: National and international strategic studies

 

National university of Bangladesh

Political Science

University of Madras

Master of Philosophy - MPhil 1st class