SM Shafiuddin Ahmed

SM Shafiuddin Ahmed (born 1 December 1963)[1] is a Bangladeshi General, currently serving as the 17th Chief of Army Staff (CAS) of Bangladesh Army since 24 June 2021 for a 3-year term.[3][4] Previously he served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Director of Military Training (DMT), the Commander of an Infantry Brigade and an Infantry Division and the Quartermaster general (QMG) of Bangladesh Army.[5][6][7]

SM Shafiuddin Ahmed
এস এম শফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ
17th Chief of Army Staff
Assumed office
24 June 2021 (2021-06-24)
PresidentAbdul Hamid
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byAziz Ahmed
Personal details
Born (1963-12-01) 1 December 1963
Khulna, East Pakistan, Pakistan
(present-day Khulna, Bangladesh)[1][2]
NationalityBangladeshi
Alma mater
Websitewww.army.mil.bd
Military service
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch/service Bangladesh Army
Years of service1983 - present
Rank General
UnitEast Bengal Regiment (Corps of Infantry)
CommandsQuartermaster General of Bangladesh Army
GOC of ARTDOC
GOC of 19th Infantry Division
GOC of Logistics Formation
• Commander of 52 Infantry Brigade
Colonel of the Regiment of East Bengal Regiment & Bangladesh Infantry Regiment (BIR)
Colonel Commandant of Corps of Military Police
• Colonel Commandant of Corps of Engineers
Colonel Commandant of Armoured corps
DG of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS)
• Senior Directing Staff (SDS) of National Defence College
• Deputy Force Commander of MINUSCA
Battles/warsCounter Insurgency Operation in Chittagong Hill Tracts, ONUMOZ, MINUSCA

Early life and academics

Shafiuddin Ahmed was born on 1 December 1963 in a reputed Muslim and Freedom Fighter Family in Khulna.[2] His father, late Sheikh Mohammad Rokon Uddin Ahmed was a freedom fighter, professor and social worker.

Shafiuddin Ahmed is a former student of Jhenidah Cadet College of the 12th intake.[8] Shafiuddin Ahmed has attended several military courses both at home and abroad. He is a graduate of Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur, Bangladesh. He attended International Symposium Course in PLA National Defence University and Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the same University. He is also a NESA graduate from National Defense University, Washington DC. He attained three Master's degrees on varied disciplines. He was awarded MPhil degree with First Class on Development of Security Studies from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP). He obtained Masters in Defence Studies (MDS) from National University, Bangladesh. He has also obtained Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Dhaka where he secured 1st position and received MIST Gold Medal. He completed his PhD degree on Development of Security Studies from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) in 28 August 2021.[9]

Career

Shafiuddin Ahmed was commissioned in the 4th Battalion the East Bengal Regiment of Bangladesh Army on 23 December 1983 in the 9th Bangladesh Military Academy Long Course.[5] After the commission, he started his military career by joining the East Bengal Regiment in the counter insurgency operation area in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.[10] He served as Battalion Commander in 1st Bangladesh Battalion of Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) and commanded an Infantry Brigade. He also served as the Director of Military Training in Military Training Directorate at the General Staff Branch, Army headquarters. He served as the General Officer Commanding & Area Commander of the 19th Infantry Division & Ghatail Area in 2012.[11][12] He also served as the Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). Also served as the Chief of Doctrine of Army Training & Doctrine Command (ARTDOC).

He served as a Senior Directing Staff (SDS) at National Defense College, GOC of 19th Infantry Division and the GOC of the Area Commander of Logistics Area. On 25 August 2019, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and made the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC).[5]He was appointed as the 6th Colonel Commandant of Corps of Military Police on 19 October 2020. Before he has taken over the Command of Bangladesh Army he has been serving as the Quarter Master General (QMG) of Bangladesh Army.

United Nations peacekeeping missions

Shafiuddin Ahmed served as a Deputy Force Commander of MINUSCA in Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016 and received citations by SRSG for outstanding performance.[13][14] Under UNSC in Mozambique, he served in ONUMOZ from 1993 to 1994.

As the Chief of Army Staff

On December 30, 2020, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate in a press release said that Lieutenant General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed took charge as the QMG. Later, On June 10, Lieutenant General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Quarter Master General (QMG) 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.

Newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff SM Shafiuddin Ahmed was adorned with the rank badge of General in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on June 24, 2021 morning. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan adorned the new army chief with the rank badge of General.

Currently the General is serving as the 17th Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory, Bangladesh Diesel Plant Limited, Trust Bank Limited, Army Welfare Trust, and the Board of Trustees of Sena Kalyan Sangstha. He is the President of Bangladesh Olympic Association and Bangladesh Golf Federation. He is also acting as the President of the Executive Committee of Kurmitola Golf Club. He is the Vice Chairman of the Governing Body of National Defence College and Defence Services Command & Staff College, Council of the Military Institute of Science and Technology.[15]

Personal life

Shafiuddin Ahmed is married to Noorjahan Ahmed, the General is a father of two daughters, Dr. Sheikh Rubaiya Ahmed and Sheikh Rufaida Fatima.[2]

References

  1. "New Chief of Army Staff biography". Daily Sun (Bangladesh). 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. "Chief of Army Staff". Bangladesh Army. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  3. "New army chief SM Shafiuddin adorned with rank badge of General". Dhaka Tribune. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  4. "Bangladesh names SM Shafiuddin Ahmed as new army chief". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  5. "Maj Gen Shafiuddin promoted to Lieutenant General". UNB. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  6. লেফটেন্যান্ট জেনারেল হলেন এস এম শফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  7. "Major shuffle in the top brass of Bangladesh Army". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  8. "Lt Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmed made new chief of Bangladesh Army". New Age Ltd.
  9. "The army chief has spent a busy time in the cantonment". ISPR (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  10. "Assuming charge of the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff". ISPR (in Bengali). Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  11. লে. জেনারেল হলেন শফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  12. লে. জেনারেল হলেন এস এম শফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ. Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  13. মেজর জেনারেল এস এম শফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ এর লেফটেন্যান্ট জেনারেল পদে পদোন্নতি লাভ. আইএসপিআর (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  14. লেফটেন্যান্ট জেনারেল হলেন শফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ. dailyjagaran.com (in Bengali). 26 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  15. "Chief of Army Staff - Bangladesh Army". www.army.mil.bd. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
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