Rear Admiral Md Moinul Hassan has formally taken charge as the new Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, replacing Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haque.
He officially assumed office on Thursday, 10 September, after signing the charge handover and assumption register during a ceremony attended by senior Coast Guard officials and officers of various ranks.
The appointment was confirmed in an official press release by Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon.
Distinguished naval career
Throughout his naval career, Rear Admiral Moinul Hassan has occupied several key command, staff, and leadership positions.
His major appointments include Commander Chattogram Naval Area, Commander Bangladesh Naval Fleet, Commodore Naval Aviation, and the first Commandant of the Navy Training and Doctrine Command.
At Naval Headquarters, he served as Director of Naval Plans and Naval Aviation as well as Naval Secretary. He also previously served as Deputy Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
An experienced navigator, he has commanded a corvette, two offshore patrol vessels, three medium and small fast attack craft, and a missile boat. In addition, he served as Commanding Officer of the Flying Wing and contributed to the development of the Bangladesh Navy’s Naval Aviation Wing.
Commissioning and academic credentials
Rear Admiral Moinul Hassan joined the Bangladesh Navy on 1 July 1989 and was commissioned into its Executive Branch on 1 January 1992. He has undertaken extensive professional training and higher education both at home and abroad.
He is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Mirpur, the National Defence College in Mirpur, and the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, India. He also completed the Naval Command College Course (NCC-2017) at the US Naval War College in Rhode Island.
His academic qualifications include an MSc in Defence Studies from National University, Bangladesh, and an MSc in Strategic Studies from Tamil Nadu University, India. Moreover, he completed a Senior Staff Course at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre in Savar and is currently pursuing a PhD at Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).
International missions and honours
On the international front, Rear Admiral Moinul Hassan served as a military observer with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire from 2007 to 2008. He has also represented the Bangladesh Navy at various international military exercises, seminars, and conferences.
In recognition of his professional contributions, he was awarded the Bangladesh Navy’s highest peacetime honour, the Nou Bahini Padak, along with the Distinguished Service Medal and the Bangladesh Coast Guard Medal.
Under his leadership, the Bangladesh Coast Guard is expected to further build its professional capabilities, modernise its operations, reinforce security across the nation’s maritime, coastal, and riverine areas, and protect public safety.
