New Bangladesh Army chief meets President Abdul Hamid, PM Sheikh Hasina

The new chief of Bangladesh Army has visited President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

General Abu Belal Mohammad Shafiul Huq took charge last Thursday, replacing General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan as Chief of Army Staff.

He went to see Hasina on Sunday noon and met the president at the Bangabhaban in the afternoon.

“The new army chief has sought the president’s support in modernising the army,”
the president’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told reporters after the meeting.

President Hamid, Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, was hopeful that General Huq’s leadership will bring progress, Abedin said.

He urged the new chief to make sure that all institutions under the Armed
Forces Welfare Organisation made profits.

General Huq during his meeting with the prime minister sought her
cooperation, said her Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim. “The prime minister has
wished him success.”

Born in 1958, Gen Huq joined the Bangladesh Army in 1978. He had been serving as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) since 2013.

His brother Annisul Huq was elected Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation in
April.

Gen Shafiul Huq was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’ for outstanding performance at the Military Academy as a young cadet.

He completed Bachelor of Arts from Dhaka University and did his Master’s in
Defence Studies from the National University.