In an attempt to keep Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman under pressure, the office of Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus continues to sit on files containing the names of officers promoted during a week-long exercise conducted by the Army Promotion Board, at least two sources familiar with this “delicate” situation have revealed to Northeast News.
The Army Promotion Board met for seven days between July 20 and 28. The Army Headquarters Selection Board-2025 kicked off its first meeting in Dhaka on July 20 following an inaugural programme which was attended by Yunus, Gen Zaman, Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Hafiz who is Special Assistant on Defence and National Solidarity to the Chief Adviser and other senior Army officers the same day.
The Army Promotion Board’s meetings were aimed at taking decisions on elevating officers to the ranks of lieutenant colonels, colonels, brigadiers and majors general.
A senior Army officer said that the recommendations of the Army Promotion Board normally takes between “24 and 72 hours” for clearance by the chief executive’s – Chief Adviser’s – office.
Northeast News has reliably learnt that most of the officers who were promoted and subsequently assigned new postings are close to Gen Zaman.
However, when the files were moved to Yunus’ office, the Chief Adviser sought to not clear them without assigning any reasons to the Army top brass.
Among the cases involving senior officers is that of the file related to the promotion of the 9th Infantry Division General Officer Commanding (GOC) Major General Mohammad Moin Khan.
Based in Savar, this division is the Bangladesh Army’s most strategic and significant formation, as it is responsible for securing Dhaka.
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While the file related to Maj Gen Moin Khan remains pending, a second case involves the transfer of National Security Intelligence (NSI) chief Major General Abu Mohammad Sarwar Farid as the GOC of the 19th Infantry which is based at another key location – Ghatail in Tangail district adjoining Dhaka.
Maj Gen Mohammed Hossain Al Morshed is the current 19th Infantry Division GOC. He was previously the NSI DG.
On the day the Army Promotion Board held its inaugural meeting, Yunus had directed the members of the selection board to give emphasis on professional competence, leadership qualities, standards of discipline, honesty, trustworthiness and loyalty and the overall suitability of the officers for their promotion.
