Colonel GM Rajib Ahmed, known for his loyalty to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and General Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, has been promoted to Brigadier General, according to defense sources. The promotion reportedly triggered strong reactions within the Bangladesh Army, as Rajib was among those who played a key role in ensuring Hasina’s safe escape to Delhi following her ouster during the July uprising. The decision was reportedly influenced by a powerful senior military official currently serving in the government.

Rajib previously served as Assistant Military Secretary to Sheikh Hasina in 2020 and was later appointed Deputy Military Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office. He was also sent to South Sudan as a UN peacekeeping contingent commander before returning to Bangladesh. His promotion has caused resentment among officers who felt sidelined over the past fifteen years, with some arguing that a figure associated with the former regime’s repression should not have remained in service.

The controversy has also spread across virtual platforms, where discussions and criticism of the promotion continue to intensify.