Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Major General Abdul Hafiz of Bangladesh as Force

 

Commander for United Nations Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Major General Abdul Hafiz of Bangladesh as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).  Major General Hafiz succeeds Major General Jingmin Zhao of China, whose tour of duty ended on 10 April 2011.  The Secretary-General is grateful to Major General Zhao for his exemplary service and contribution to the work of MINURSO.

Major General Hafiz brings to this position extensive experience gained during a distinguished military career, which also includes service in United Nations peacekeeping operations.  From 2004 to 2005, he served as the Deputy Force Commander of United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI); between 2003 and 2004, he was the Chief Military Liaison Officer with the United Nations Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (MINUCI).  From 1991 to 1992, Major General Hafiz also served as a Military Liaison Officer with the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission and as the Chief Military Liaison Officer in Zagreb, Croatia.

Currently, Major General Hafiz is the General Officer commanding an infantry division of the Bangladesh Army.  Previously, he served as the Chief of General Staff, Bangladesh Army Headquarters.  He joined the Bangladeshi Army in 1977, commanding an infantry brigade from 1999 to 2001 and an infantry division from 2005 to 2008.  In the period 2001 to 2003, he led the Military Academy of Bangladesh.  From 2008 to 2009, he served as the Director-General of the paramilitary organization “Ansar and Village Defence Party”, commanding more than 15,000 active and 30,000 reserve forces.

Major General Hafiz holds a Master in Defence Studies degree from National University Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Born in Dhaka in 1957, he is married and has two daughters.

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For information media • not an official record