By IANS,
Dhaka : Lt. Gen. Abdul Mubin is tipped to be the new chief of the Bangladesh Army, replacing General Moin U. Ahmed, a media report said.
The appointment of Gen. Mubin, who is now principal staff officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division, is yet to be formally announced.
Son of an army officer, Gen. Mubin was commissioned in November 1977 as an infantry officer from the third short course of Bangladesh Military Academy, The Daily Star said Friday, quoting sources in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mubin is not the seniormost among the army top brass.
Three officers senior to him in service are Peace Keeping Force Commander Lt General Zahir, Quarter Master General Lt General Jahangir, and High Commissioner to Australia Lt Gen Masud Uddin.
Mubin played a leading role in ending the mutiny by the troopers of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in February when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, anxious to end the mutiny, declared a general amnesty to those who surrender.
Mubin made a televised statement on the night of Feb 27 to clarify that the “general amnesty” the government had declared during the Feb 25-26 BDR mutiny did not mean that rebel border guards involved in killings, arson and other crimes would be forgiven.
Fifty-six army officers on deputation to the BDR were killed during the mutiny that took place over low wages and poor working conditions.
The current army chief General Moeen U. Ahmed also played a key role in calming the angry army officers in the wake of the mutiny.
Gen. Ahmed has been the army chief since June 15, 2005, one of the longest tenures in Bangladesh.
He took a leading role in backing a caretaker government that ruled the country during 2007-08.
Appointed as the chief of staff June 15, 2005, Moeen had his service extended by a year April 6 last year after an eventful three-year tenure. He was elevated to a four-star general in 2007. Moeen will retire from service June 14.
The army has played a key role in Bangladesh since independence in 1971. The country has had a long phase of rule by the military or military-guided democracy between 1975 and 1990.