Moeen U Ahmed

General Moeen U Ahmed, ndc, psc
General Moeen U Ahmed, ndc, psc
	File:General Moeen.jpg
Born	Noakhali
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Service/branch	Bangladesh Army
Years of service	1975-2009
Rank	General
Commands held	GOC: -; 19 Infantry division, Mymensingh; 24 Infantry division, Chittagong; Chief of General Staff; Chief of Army Staff
Battles/wars	Counter Insurgency Operation in Chittagong Hill Tracts, UN Peacekeeping Missions.

General Moeen Uddin Ahmed ndc psc (Bengali:মঈন উদ্দিন আহমেদ) was Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 15 June 2005 to 15 June 2009. Previously, he worked as in diplomatic mission in Pakistan as a Defence Attaché, prior to that he served as a UN Peacekeeper in United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda.

General Moeen was the first to become the Army Chief from among the officers commissioned in independent Bangladesh. General Moeen U Ahmed is believed to be the main pillar behind the country's Caretaker government in 2008 which declared an emergency period in the country for nearly two years and imprisoned nearly all political leaders of the country including the Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. His period of service was expanded once for 1 year. Later on, he retired from office on June 15, 2009 and handed over power to General Muhammad Abdul Mubeen, psc, ndc.^[1]^{[failed verification]} Upon retirement, Moeen intended to become Bangladesh's representative to the UN, which the ruling Awami League denied.

Military career

Moeen U Ahmed is a graduate of PAF Public School Sargodha in the erstwhile West Pakistan. He belonged to the 16th entry (831 – Fury House), which stayed there from 1965 to 1970.

General Moeen U Ahmed, ndc, psc, the former Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh Army started his military career in January 1975. He was commissioned in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment, a battalion that was raised on 7 February 1949. His service profile started as Distinguished "Chief of Army Staff's Cane" holder of the pioneer Short Service Course-1 from Bangladesh Military Academy. General Moeen has the experience of commanding all echelons and levels of command commensurate to his rank from the Platoon Commander to General Officer Commanding of Infantry Division.

His service profile is a combination of important command, staff and instructional appointments. He started his instructional career as Weapon Training Officer and then Platoon Commander in Bangladesh Military Academy. He then served as Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade.

Besides commanding two infantry battalions as Lieutenant Colonel, he also served as Grade One Staff Officer in Army Headquarters, Military Operations Directorate. As a Colonel, he served as Colonel Staff of an Infantry Division. A veteran Instructor, General Moeen has served in Defence Services Command and Staff College in three terms as Directing Staff in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Senior Instructor of Army Wing in the rank of Colonel and Chief Instructor in the rank of Brigadier General.

Moeen was the key force behind the declaration of emergency in the country on 11 January 2007 widely known as 1/11 phenomenon. He has been accused of playing a controversial role by helping the caretaker government of Bangladesh to retain power after constitution stipulated three months duration. Although never publicly admitted he has been identified as the main driving force behind the non-elected government but he has also been praised for not declaring martial law even though he had the opportunity to do so. He and the government has been accused domestically and globally to de-politicise the country. Hundreds of political figures including two ex-prime ministers, ministers, lawmakers and local government heads have been imprisoned by the regime accusing them of corruption. Although some of these figures were notoriously corrupt, most of them do not have any specific allegation against them. The regime's anti-corruption drive has been widely praised and criticised around the globe.

However, he raised much controversy during the tenure. Some quarters also hold him responsible for degrading Army's fame and reputation among the general mass. He arguably also displayed non soldier like attitude both during and after the tenure.