Of the 70 files related to the promotion of lieutenant colonels, colonels, brigadiers and major generals in the Bangladesh Army, only a few were approved last week by Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus’ office, Northeast News has reliably learnt.
Of the few files that were released was that of Savar-based General Officer Commanding Major General Moin Khan who, instead of being promoted, as expected by Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, was sent into retirement as of August 21. As GOC of the vital 9th Infantry Division, Maj Gen Moin Khan was among the very few officers deeply trusted by Gen Zaman.
Well-placed sources in the Army revealed to Northeast News that no more than 10-15 files related to some senior officers were approved by the Chief Adviser’s office, even though the Army Promotion Board had completed the recommendatory exercise by early August. The 70 files were then sent to Yunus’ office, where officials sat on them till a few days ago when the promotion of a few senior officers was approved.
Alongside Maj Gen Khan’s pending file, another matter was the transfer file of Major General Abu Mohammad Sarwar Farid, the DG of NSI, to serve as GOC of the 19th Infantry Division.
The 19th Infantry Division is located in Ghatail, Tangail district, which, besides Savar, is another strategically important area near Dhaka.
Maj Gen Mohammad Hossain Al Morshed serves as the GOC of the 19th Infantry Division. He previously held the position of Director General of the NSI.
On August 21, the day Gen Zaman left for a week-long visit to China, Brig Gen Nazim Ud Daula, Director of Operations at the Bangladesh Army Headquarters, and Brig Gen Sajjad, Director of Welfare, were promoted to Major Generals. And now, Maj Gen Nazim Ud Daula is tipped to take over as GOC 11th Infantry Division and Area Commander of Bogura.
Maj Gen S M Asadul Haque, GOC of Bogura Cantonment, has moved to take charge as GOC, 9th Infantry Division, as a replacement for Maj Gen (retd) Moin Khan.
As Director of Military Operations (DMO), Brig Nazim ud Daula reportedly issued direct orders to the military and law enforcement authorities and briefed the force commanders every evening during the students-led uprising that led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
Earlier, as a DGFI officer working on diplomatic cover at Bangladesh’s Singapore mission, Nazim ud Daula had reportedly forced the then Chief Justice S K Sinha to leave the country. He was subsequently rewarded and appointed Commandant of the Army Security Unit.
