Bangladesh Army: Marching into the future’
📝 Online Desk
🕐 2021-07-17 12:28:17
Rabb Majumder
Bangladesh Army is the brainchild of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On Feb 05, 1966, Bangabandhu presented his six-point demand for regional autonomy at a conference in Lahore, Pakistan where he put forward a Separate Militia or Para-Military Force for the then East Pakistan.
The six-point Magna Carta was turned into one point demand to freeing the country from the clutches of Pakistan. After 9 months of War Bangladesh has achieved its independence on December 16, 1971. Bangladesh Army is the largest component of the Bangladesh Armed Forces was founded on March 26, 1971.
Bangladesh Army now entering a new phase to modernize and world-class training under the new Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed. General Shafiuddin Ahmed takes command of the Bangladesh Army as Chief of Army Staff (CAS) on June 24, 2021.
General Shafiuddin, one of the finest, prudent, sagacious, and suave officers was chosen by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the coveted and most important post of Chief of Bangladesh Army following the retirement of General Aziz Ahmed.
Bangladesh Army got the stunning skipper who is a son of a valiant freedom fighter and a noted social worker of Professor SM Rokonuddin Ahmed.
The General belongs to a progressive, enlightened, and liberation war freedom fighter family.
General Shafiuddin Ahmed’s appointment has given new hope, aspiration, and rejuvenation among all rank and file of the Bangladesh Army.
SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, the new chief of army staff, being adorned with the general rank badge
by the chief of naval staff and the chief of air staff, in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
at the Gono Bhaban. Photo: ISPR
As the 17th Chief of Army Staff General Shafiuddin Ahmed will spearhead the Army’s transformation to build readiness and will herald a new order in the Bangladesh Army. According to Bangladesh Army’s webpage message, the General was commissioned in the 9th BMA Long Course on 23 December 1983 in the Corps of Infantry in the Bangladesh Army.
General Shafiuddin Ahmed has triumphantly commanded Army Training and Doctrine Command (DOC); at Division and Brigade level, the only Logistics Formation of Bangladesh Army, an Infantry Division and an Infantry Brigade. An Infantry Division, Battalion, and the 1st Bangladesh Battalion (only one of its kinds) at Bangladesh Military Academy. The General has also quintessential experience of commanding multinational forces in a start-up peacekeeping mission as the pioneer Deputy Force Commander in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed
being presented guard of honor at Senakunja. Photo: ISPR
General Shafiuddin has served as the Director-General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), and Senior Directing Staff (Army) of National Defence College (NDC), Bangladesh. The General has also served as Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and Grade-1 Staff Officer at the Formation Headquarters. He has also served as the Chief of Doctrine Division in ARTDOC and Director of Military Training Directorate at the Army Headquarters.
The General has partaken in several military courses both at home and abroad. He is a graduate of Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur, Bangladesh. General Shafiuddin has attended International Symposium Course at National Defence University (NDU), China, and Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the same University. He is also a NESA graduate from NDU, Washington DC. Besides, General Shafiuddin led military delegations to the USA, China, India, Japan, Kuwait, Indonesia, Nepal, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, and held bilateral talks with the senior military leadership on regional security and defense cooperation.
General Shafiuddin has achieved three Master's Degrees in three different subjects. The General was awarded an MPhil degree with First Class on Development and Security Studies from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) and is pursuing his doctoral research in the same university. He has received Masters in Defence Studies (MDS) from National University, Bangladesh. He has furthermore obtained Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Dhaka University where he secured 1st position and received MIST Gold Medal.
The General has traveled to many countries around the world. He is a Sports loving General and a good Golfer. The General has also served as the President of the Army Golf Club for a long time. Happily married to Noorjahan Ahmed, the General is a proud father of two lovely daughters. The siblings are Dr. Sheikh Rubaiya Ahmed and Sheikh Rufaida Fatima.
According to Cory Booker, “If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are an excellent leader”. “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard efforts which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Leadership is not a position or title it is action and example’.
The above notion validates in the case of Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed for his unwavering leadership ability and acumen in the most disciplined forces of the Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh Army was lauded by the international community for its impressive record of achievement, leadership, and participation in the UN peacekeeping and peace support initiatives.
Bangladesh Army has also been actively engaged in nation-building and all-natural catastrophes in the aid of civil administration.
General Shafiuddin Ahmed has escalated this topmost position through the steep slopes of soldering from day one and had to undergo arduous practices and training at the Bangladesh Military Academy with 37 years soldering from captain to commander.
The General has reaped artistry and agility by accomplishing multidimensional capacity in various fields and has proved himself as a role model for the next generation of Bangladesh’s Army.
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