Bangladesh: BNP govt transfers 'pro-Pak & pro-Jamaat' army officers

DHAKA: The Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh govt has effected a second reshuffle in the army within a week, with sources saying among the "high-level officers" transferred were those facing criticism for their "pro-Pakistan and pro-Jamaat roles" and allegations of keeping army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman "under pressure" with support of the former Muhammad Yunus-headed interim govt.

The reshuffle in the army, has fortified Zaman's position, the sources said. The transfer of army officers is part of a series of changes the Tarique-led dispensation is making to govt structures, including ending services ofcontractual appointees of the interim govt.




This has broken the "old chain of pro-Jamaat and pro-Pakistan high-level officers", the sources said, adding that several officials in other services aligned with opposition Jamaat-e-Islami have been removed, the most prominent being International Crimes Tribunal chief prosecutor Tajul Islam.

They said Zaman - a relative of ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, who flew to India in a military helicopter amid violent protests against her govt in 2024 - has been widely credited for the immense support of the armed forces in conduct of the polls.

On Feb 26, according to the Tarique-led defence ministry, Lt Gen Mohammad Shaheenul Haque, commandant of the National Defence College (NDC) was transferred to position of Quartermaster General, Maj Gen Hossain Al Morshed, GOC 19th infantry division and Ghatail area commander, was appointed as the new adjutant general at army headquarters, replacing Maj Gen Md Hakimuzzaman, who is now commandant of the Military Institute of Science and Technology.

The reshuffle in the army on Feb 22 saw chief of general staff, principal staff officer, and chief of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence being changed. Earlier, 13 officers, including the secretary to the PMO, were removed from their posts, and of them, eight were appointed on a contractual basis by the interim govt.