New Navy chief adorned with rank badge
He was adorned with the rank badge vice-admiral at a function in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban
Newly-appointed Chief of the Bangladesh Navy Mohammad Shaheen Iqbal was adorned with the rank badge of vice-admiral today.
"He was adorned with the rank badge vice-admiral at a function in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said.
He also said, "Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat adorned him with the rank badge of vice-admiral."
Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman and Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Mian were present on the occasion.
The government appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Rear Admiral Mohammad Shaheen Iqbal as the new Chief of Naval Staff. The Ministry of Defence issued a gazette notification in this regard on July 18.
It said the appointment will come into effect on the afternoon of July 25, when Mohammad Shaheen Iqbal will be promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral.
He has been made the naval chief for three years till July 24, 2023, the notification added.
He replaces Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury who went on retirement on July 25.
M Shaheen Iqbal joined the Bangladesh Navy as an officer cadet in 1980. He worked his way through the Bangladesh Naval Academy and was commissioned to the Executive Branch on December 1, 1982.
During his service career, Shaheen attended various courses at home and abroad. He did his specialisation, in India, on anti-submarine warfare. He successfully completed an Officers' Weapons Course at SI&T, Sylhet and International Surface Warfare Course in the US, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Maritime Research and Development.
He is a graduate of Naval Staff College in the US. Later, M Shaheen Iqbal completed the Armed Forces War Course in 2005 and National Defence Course in 2010, respectively, from the National Defence College, Mirpur, Dhaka.
He also successfully completed the Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Flag Officers Course in Hawaii, US in 2015. He received a commendation from the chief of Naval Staff for his outstanding performance during professional courses.
The new chief has held many staff appointments. He served as director of Naval Intelligence, director of Naval Operations and staff officer intelligence at Naval Headquarters. He also served as staff officer operations of Commodore Commanding BN Flotilla. Shaheen Iqbal was also a proud "Blue Flag" bearer as a member of a United Nations Guard Contingent in Iraq from November 15, 1997 to February 9, 1999.