Abdul Hafiz (general)
Abdul Hafiz | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 6, 1957 |
| Occupation | Retired lieutenant general of Bangladesh Army |
| Known for | Chief of the General Staff of Bangladesh Army; UN peacekeeping force commander in Western Sahara and Côte d'Ivoire; Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of interim administration under Muhammad Yunus |
Abdul Hafiz (born 6 November 1957) is a retired lieutenant general of the Bangladesh Army who previously held the position of Chief of the General Staff. He has commanded UN peacekeeping forces in both Western Sahara and Côte d'Ivoire. Presently, he acts as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser of the interim administration under Muhammad Yunus, concentrating on defense and national integrity initiatives.
Personal life and education
Abdul Hafiz was born on 6 November 1957 and is recognized for his distinguished military tenure. He earned a Master's degree in Defense Studies from Bangladesh National University. His training credentials include infantry courses completed in China and the United States, along with graduation from France’s Defense Intelligence College. Proficient in English and French, he completed his secondary schooling at Rajshahi Cadet College as a member of its sixth intake.
Bangladesh Army
Commissioned into the infantry branch on 8 May 1977, Abdul Hafiz advanced to the rank of major general in 2005 and retired soon after attaining the rank of lieutenant general. His leadership roles encompassed commanding an infantry brigade in 1999, serving as commandant of the Bangladesh Military Academy between 2001 and 2003, and heading the 33rd Infantry Division based in Comilla from 2005 to 2008. Between 2008 and 2009, he was Director-General of the paramilitary forces Ansar and VDP. Additionally, he fulfilled duties as Chief of General Staff for the Bangladesh Army.
United Nations peacekeeping
General Abdul Hafiz acted as military liaison officer for the UNIKOM stationed in Zagreb during 1991–1992. He participated in a Peacekeeping Operations seminar at the Staff College, Camberley in 1994 and attended the 11th Defense Forum Committee meeting held in Tokyo in 2006.
UN mission in Côte d'Ivoire
From 2003 to 2004, Abdul Hafiz served as chief military liaison officer for the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI), followed by his appointment as Deputy Force Commander of United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) from 2004 to 2005. In 2010, he was named Force Commander of UNOCI but stepped down in March 2011 amid accusations concerning unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information involving French interests in Africa. Upon resigning, he stated,
UN mission in Western Sahara
In July 2011, Abdul Hafiz was designated Force Commander for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Upon his appointment, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon emphasized his vast experience in peacekeeping operations. His tenure received commendation, with the Secretary-General acknowledging his outstanding leadership at the conclusion of his assignment.
Role in Yunus Cabinet
On 22 August 2024, Abdul Hafiz was designated as Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser within the interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus. This position holds the same status as that of an adviser. His responsibilities include supporting initiatives related to defense and the enhancement of national unity.
Honors
Throughout his professional journey, Abdul Hafiz received several distinctions, notably the United Nations Medal in recognition of his contributions to MINURSO.
External links
- Interview with Abdul Hafiz, Voice of America, 30 July 2011