Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman

Lieutenant General (Retd), PhD
Adviser (International Relations)

Professional Profile

Retired from Bangladesh Army on 29 November 2020. His 39 years of career includes vast experience of working at all levels of military command and leadership. Experienced in the highest-level decision-making process for national strategic and military affairs. Worked directly as Principal Staff to the Honorable Prime Minister (Head of the Government) for all operational, administrative matters including disaster management and UN Peace Keeping of the Armed Forces. As Adjutant General of Bangladesh Army he was Vice Chairman of Army Welfare Trust where he worked as Vice Chairman of Trust Bank Ltd.

Academic and Military Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in “Non-Traditional Security Strategy for Addressing Trans-border Crimes”, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, 2014.
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Defence and Security Studies from Madras University, India, 2007.
• Master’s degree in War Studies from Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Bangladesh, 2008.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Royal Roads University, Bangladesh, 2005.
• Master’s degree in Defence Studies from National University, Bangladesh , 2005.
• RCDS Course from Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), UK, 2014.
• National Defence Course (NDC) from National Defence College (NDC), India, 2007.
• Armed Forces War Course (AFWC) from Armed Forces War College, Bangladesh, 2003.
• Defence Services Command and Staff Course (psc), DSCSC, Bangladesh, 1994.

Contribution in United Nations

• Served 02 tours of duties as Operational Staff in Region and Force Headquarters in ONUMOZ, Mozambique (1994) and UNAMSIL, Sierra Leone (2001) under UN umbrella. Duties involved planning, coordinating and deploying troops, drafting orders and reports for Force Commander (worked as Force Briefing Officer in Sierra Leone).
• As the head of Armed Forces Division and Principal Accounting Officer of the Armed Forces (A ministry level Joint Forces Headquarter) directly involved with the UN Peacekeeping Affairs (Preparation, Pledges, Gender Perspective, Deployment etc.) of Bangladesh Armed Forces. Actively working for the formulation of Gender Perspective and equality of participation of women and men in all areas of work for Bangladesh military particularly in UN Peacekeeping Operation. As a head of Peacekeeping Affairs, prepared and presented briefings related to policies, guidelines, directives and developments, and provided inputs and assistance in decision making to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Peacekeeping Affairs.
• Organized the first ever Women Peace and Security Chiefs of Defence Network (WCN) as a co-host along with Canada and UK during UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial 2017 in Vancouver and designated to organize 3rd conference on WCN as the Chair. Used good offices to invite the Chief Guest of the event, UNHCR Special Envoy Ms. Angelina Jolie to visit Rohingya (Displaced Myanmar Citizens) Camps (visit took place in February 2019).
• Nominated as the Gender Champion and Gender Advocate for Bangladesh in UN Peacekeeping Affairs.
• Attended High Level Meeting on “Elimination of Nuclear Weapon” in UNHQ, New York during the UNGA-2018 and delivered speech on Bangladesh’s perspective in UN Security Council.

Contribution in International Arena other than UN Affairs

• As a key leader of Bangladesh Army exclusively interviewed in the Asia Pacific Defence Forum Magazine, (Vol-41, Issue-1, Feb 2016) which is published by USINDOPACOM.
• Contributed in Chiefs of Defence Conference (CHOD-2017) on Countering-Violent Extremist Organization (C-VEO) in USA, and his intervention was highlighted in the UN official documentary.
• Participated as a panel member on “Strategic Leadership” in International Armoured Conference-2018, London, UK. The panel was moderated by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Chairman of the Conference.
• Being invited by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw delivered keynote paper as a featured speaker on “Bangladesh’s Experience in Counter Terrorism and UN Mission: Relevance of Force Protection” in the International Armoured Conference, Middle East-2018, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Invited by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw.
• Delivered presentation as a Panelist in ISAS- COSATT- KAS Workshop on “Bangladesh’s Contribution to International Security: The Case of Peace Operations” in 2019 in Singapore which was as co-hosted by National University of Singapore.
• Designated to participate as a featured speaker in International Armoured Vehicle Conference 2021, UK as invited by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw to be held on January 2021.
• Worked as the key person from Armed Forces to assist the government of Bangladesh in the process of trial against Myanmar Military Genocide over Rohingyas in International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Teaching /Instructional Experience

• Gained years of experience in delivering lectures and presentations in military and civil institutions for different levels of audience from military to civil.
• Regularly delivers lectures on ‘Ethnocentrism, Strategic Culture and Leadership Language’, ‘Global, Regional and National Security Environment’, ‘Traditional and Non-traditional Security Challenges, ‘Regional Geopolitics and Prisoner of Geography’, ‘Deterrence Strategy and Fighting being Outnumbered’, ‘Defence Policy’, ‘Disaster Management’, Procurement Policy of Armed Forces, Bangladesh Experience in Counter Terrorism’, ‘Evolution of UN Peacekeeping’ etc in different national-international universities and institutions like National Defence College, India; National Defence College, Bangladesh; Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh; IUB, Bangladesh; Northern University, Bangladesh; Bangladesh University of Professionals; Turkish Hope School and College, Bangladesh; Bangladesh Army School of Ordnance, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh and University of Essex, London, UK.
• Served as Directing Staff (Instructor) in Bangladesh Military Academy.
• Served as Directing Staff in Armed Forces War Course under National Defence College, Bangladesh which confers MPhil Degree to senior Armed Forces Officers and Civil Bureaucrats of the government.
• Served as Commandant of Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh which conducts Master’s Degree program for Armed Forces Officers participating from different countries.

Publications (Books and Journals)

• Indo-Bangladesh Trade Relations, (edited), CS Press, Dhaka, 2012.
• Global, Regional and National Security Environment: Theoretical, Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2016.
• A Study on Drug Proliferation in Bangladesh, Procholon Publications, Dhaka, 2017.
• Edited United Nations Peacekeepers Journal of Bangladesh in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 as Chief Patron.
• Edited Armed Forces Journal in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as Chief Patron.