Overview

President of the General Body - Lt Gen Md Mainur Rahman, OSP, SUP, AWC, psc, is a three-star General of the Bangladesh Army and currently serves as the Chief of General Staff (CGS). On 13 July 2026, he was unanimously elected as the President of the Osmani Centre for Peace and Security Studies (OCPASS) at the Foundation's First Annual General Meeting (AGM). His election reflects the confidence reposed in his distinguished military career, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to advancing research, dialogue, and collaboration in the fields of peace, security, and strategic affairs.

Early Life and Military Foundation

Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman was born in Dhaka. After completing his secondary and higher secondary education at the prestigious Jhenaidah Cadet College, he joined the Bangladesh Military Academy as a Gentleman Cadet of the 24th BMA Long Course in 1989. He was commissioned in the 14th Battalion, the East Bengal Regiment (Ferocious Fourteen) on 21 June 1991. Upon securing the top position among his coursemates, he was awarded the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’ in recognition of his outstanding all-round performance.

Professional Military Education

Throughout his distinguished military career, Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic excellence in his professional military education. He successfully completed all mandatory professional military courses prescribed for an Infantry officer of the Bangladesh Army, achieving outstanding results and earning distinction throughout. As a Captain, he successfully completed the Junior Command Course in India. As a Major, he achieved the Master of Defence Studies from the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur, Bangladesh, and the Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India, affiliated with the University of Madras. Later, as a Brigadier General, he attended the United States Army War College, where he obtained the Master of Science in Strategic Studies and graduated as a ‘Distinguished Graduate’, one of the institution's highest academic honours.

Distinguished Military Career

Over an illustrious military career spanning more than thirty-five years, Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman has served with distinction in a wide range of command, staff, and instructional appointments. His command assignments include Commanding Officer (CO) of the 4th Battalion, the East Bengal Regiment (Baby Tigers); Commander of the 21 Infantry Brigade and the 305 Infantry Brigade; General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 33 Infantry Division and Area Commander, Cumilla Area; General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 24 Infantry Division and Area Commander, Chattogram Area; and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC). During his tenure as GOC ARTDOC, he spearheaded significant reforms in military doctrine and training, making a lasting contribution to the operational preparedness and professional development of the Bangladesh Army. He currently serves as the Chief of General Staff (CGS) of the Bangladesh Army, providing strategic leadership in operations, training, force preparedness, and organizational development.

Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman has also made significant contributions to professional military education of the Bangladesh Army. He served on two occasions as the Directing Staff in the Tactics Wing of the School of Infantry and Tactics (SI&T) and subsequently as a Directing Staff at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur, where he played a pivotal role in shaping and mentoring future military leaders.

His distinguished staff appointments include Brigade Major (BM) of the 203 Infantry Brigade in the Khagrachhari Region, Assistant Military Secretary to the Honourable President (AMSP) of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, and Director of the Weapons, Equipment and Statistics (WE&S) Directorate at Army Headquarters. In these key appointments, he contributed significantly to operational planning, military administration, strategic coordination at the highest level of the State, capability development, force modernization, and institutional effectiveness.

United Nations Peacekeeping Experience

Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman possesses extensive experience in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. He first served as a contingent member of BANBAT-8 under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) during 2001–2002. He later returned to United Nations peacekeeping as the Contingent Commander of BANBAT-8 (4 East Bengal Regiment) under the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) during 2009–2010. During both UN deployments, his professionalism, operational expertise, and exemplary discipline earned his contingents an outstanding reputation, further reinforcing Bangladesh's standing as one of the world's leading contributors to UN peacekeeping.

National Leadership and Institutional Responsibilities

In addition to his military responsibilities, Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman has been entrusted with several significant national appointments. During the National Parliamentary Election 2026, he served as the ‘Chief Election Coordinator of the Bangladesh Army’, playing a pivotal role in coordinating military support to ensure the peaceful, credible, and orderly conduct of the election.

In recognition of his proven leadership and organizational acumen, he was appointed President of the Ad Hoc Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation (BSSF) in July 2026. In this capacity, he is leading initiatives to strengthen institutional governance and promote the sustained development of shooting sports in Bangladesh.

Recognition of Distinguished Service

Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman has been honoured with two of the Bangladesh Army's distinguished service awards in recognition of his exceptional professional achievements and leadership. In 2015, he was awarded the Army Medal of Excellence (SUP) for his outstanding academic excellence, having secured first position in at least three Bangladesh Army-level courses during his career. In 2024, he was conferred the Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP) in recognition of his exceptional leadership, operational planning, and strategic direction as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 24 Infantry Division. Under his command, the Division successfully conducted multiple military operations against the Kuki Chin National Army (KNA) in the Bandarban region of the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT), significantly enhancing the Army's operational effectiveness and contributing to the restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Beyond Uniform

Beyond his official duties, Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman is an avid reader and lifelong learner with deep interests in military strategy, geopolitics, cognitive resilience, and other multidisciplinary fields. He is admired for his rare blend of professional excellence, intellectual curiosity, and visionary leadership, underpinned by humility, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the nation and the profession of arms. His visits to nearly twenty countries have further broadened his strategic outlook, enriched his professional experience, and deepened his understanding of global security and international affairs.

Personal Life

Lieutenant General Mainur is married to Mrs. Shirin Sultana, and they are blessed with a daughter, Labonno, and a son, Tazim. Having remained an active sportsman throughout his life, he continues to maintain a strong commitment to physical fitness and an active lifestyle.