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No distance between army, people

Says new army chief


Published : 24 Jun 2021 10:27 PM | Updated : 25 Jun 2021 02:24 AM

The new Army Chief of Army Staff, General SM Shafiuddin, on Thursday said there will be no distance between Bangladesh Army and people of the country.

He also gave an assurance that there will be  no gap between media and army, while appreciating the role of the country’s media.  

After taking command of the Bangladesh Army at a function at Army Headquarters, General SM Shafiuddin made the remarks.

He said, “ First, I am expressing  my gratitude to the Almighty Allah. Because I personally believe that without the blessing of the Almighty Allah, this achievement was not possible at all.”

I also express my heartiest gratefulness to Bangabandhu’s daughter, our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for keeping her confidence in me and for giving me such a great responsibility, the new chief of Bangladesh Army continued.

You all know that today is June 24,2021. There is a special significance of the year. We are celebrating the 50 years of our independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur  Rahman. I really feel very proud to take this responsibly at this monumental moment. I want so that Almighty Allah gives me the capability to discharge my duty properly, he continued.

He said, “ However, it is true that without the help of all, it is possible to discharge such a big responsibility.”

General SM Shafiuddin said, we need to discharge the classical roles of the Bangladesh Army very well. 

I seek cooperation from all of you so that the Bangladesh Army under my leadership is able to achieve our goals in combating the challenges of the 21st century. We shall do whatever necessary, he further said.

He also gave an assurance to let people know on which issues  people have interest.

He said, there will be no distance between Bangladesh Army and people.

He also assured those present that there will be no distance between the media and the Bangladesh Army.

About his future plan, he said, I shall inform you about it. I believe in transparency. So everything will be noted. There will be no problem at all. I will give my command philosophy. I will give my strategic vision for the army. So it will be known to all of us. Today I can not give it to you instantly, saying that will not be right. He then ended his first speech to the media at Army Headquarters.

The newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff was adorned with the rank badge of General in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence  Gonobhaban in the capital Dhaka on Thursday morning.

According to the PM's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan adorned the new army chief with the rank badge of General.

After the badge-adorning ceremony, the Prime Minister congratulated the new army chief with a bouquet and wished him success.

General Shafiuddin Ahmed also greeted the Prime Minister by presenting her a bouquet.

PM’s Security Affairs Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Director General of Special Security Force (SSF) Major General Md. Majibur Rahman and PM’s military secretary Major General Naquib Ahmed Chowdhury were, among others, present.

On June 10 last, Lieutenant General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Quartermaster General of the Bangladesh Army, was named as the new chief of the army staff for the next three years with effect from June 24, 2021.

On December 30 in 2020, Lieutenant General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed took charge as the quartermaster general (QMG) of Bangladesh Army .

Earlier he was working as the general officer commanding of Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC).

Lt Gen Shafiuddin Ahmed was commissioned into Bangladesh Army through the 9th BMA Long Course on 23 December 1983 and he joined the infantry corps.

He was also the commander of an infantry battalion, battalion commander of Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA), commander of an infantry brigade and director of Military Training Directorate in Army Headquarters successfully.

Lt Gen Shafiuddin Ahmed also performed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 19th Infantry Division in 2012, DG of BIISS and Senior Directing Staff of National Defence College (NDC). 

Besides, he acted as Deputy Force Commander in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic. Lt Gen Shafiuddin Ahmed was also the GOC and Area Commander of the Logistics Area.

After promotion as the lieutenant general, he was made GOC of ARTDOC.

Shafiuddin was commissioned into the army in the 9th Bangladesh Military Academy Long Course on December 23, 1983 in the infantry corps.

Meanwhile, the outgoing chief of Bangladesh Army was given farewell in a traditional function of the Bangladesh Army.