Chief of Army Staff (Bangladesh)

Chief of Army Staff (CAS) (সেনাবাহিনী প্রধান) of Bangladesh Army, also known as Army Chief, is the highest-ranking officer of the Bangladesh Army. The Chief of Army staff has been a four-star rank since 2007. During the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, Maj. Gen. M. A. Rab (then Lt Col) was the Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army under the combined command of Bangladesh Forces which served as the origins of Bangladesh Armed Forces and General MAG Osmani was the Commander-in-Chief. After the War of Independence Bangladesh Army was officially reverted to the Ministry of Defense in 1972 and Maj. Gen. K. M. Shafiullah was appointed the Chief of Army Staff. The current Chief of Army Staff is General Waker-uz-Zaman.

The office of the Chief of Army Staff functions from the Army Headquarters, which is located in the Dhaka Cantonment.

History
The post traces its roots back to the Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini during the Liberation War of Bangladesh and it was held by Colonel (later General) MAG Osmani. On 25 March 1971, after long negotiations and actions failed to bring desired results, Pakistan Army launched a military crackdown on its own citizens, Pakistani military planners conducted this through Operation Searchlight, which spread across the country in main centers. During the first watch of 26 March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the Independence of Bangladesh. Another declaration was read out on 27 March 1971, by then Major Ziaur Rahman, on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman over radio at Kalurghat Radio Stn., Chittagong City. As a result, in March 1971, many Bengali soldiers in the Pakistan Army revolted and joined the guerilla movement, Bangladesh Forces. Colonel (later General) Mohd. Ataul Goni Osmani served as the Commander-in-Chief and Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Mohd. Abdur Rab as the Chief of Staff.

Bangladesh Army came into being officially in January, 1972. In April 1972, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman then decided to change the commanding posts of the three services which was combined and commanded by General M. A. G. Osmani. On 7 April 1972, Maj. Gen. K M Shafiullah, was made the chief of army staff.

Chief of Army Staff's rank was upgraded to lieutenant-general in 1978 and then to four-star general in 2007.

Appointees
The following table chronicles the appointees, to the office of the Chief of Army Staff or its preceding positions since the liberation war of Bangladesh.

Chief of staff, Mukti Bahini (1971–1972)
=== Chiefs of Army staff (1971–present) ===