The government has appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Rear Admiral Mohammad Shaheen Iqbal has been appointed as the new Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) on July 18. He will take up the position on July 25.

The Ministry of Defence said in a gazette notification on July 18, which the appointment will come into effect on July 25, when Mohammed Shaheen Iqbal will be promoted to Vice Admiral.

He will serve as the Navy chief for three years until July 24, 2023, according to it.

Mohammed Shaheen Iqbal will replace incumbent Aurangzeb Chowdhury who will go on retirement on July 25.

Rear Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal joined the Bangladesh Navy as an officer cadet in 1980. He worked his way through Bangladesh Naval Academy and was commissioned in the Executive Branch on December 1, 1982.

During his service career, Rear Admiral Mohammed Shaheen Iqbal attended various courses at home and abroad. He specialized in 'Anti-Submarine Warfare' from India. He successfully completed 'Officers' Weapon Course' in SI and T, Sylhet and 'International Surface Warfare Course' in the USA. He is a graduate of 'Naval Staff College' in the USA. Later on, He completed 'Armed Forces War Course' (AFWC) in 2005 and 'National Defence Course' (NDC) in 2010 respectively from National Defence College, Mirpur, Dhaka. He also successfully completed 'Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Flag Officers Course' (CFMCC) at Hawaii in USA in 2015. He received commendation from the Chief of Naval Staff for outstanding performance in professional courses.