Bangladeshi General named UN peacekeeping force commander in Cyprus

A Bangladeshi army general has been appointed Force Commander of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), marking another milestone in Bangladesh’s contribution to global peacekeeping.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres named Major General Mohammad Asadullah Minhajul Alam to the post, according to a statement issued from the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday (April 8).

He succeeds Mongolian Major General Erdenebat Batsuuri.

Alam brings extensive peacekeeping experience, having previously served as a sector commander in the UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) from 2020 to 2021, and as a military observer in East Timor (UNTAET) in 1999–2000.

With more than three decades in the Bangladesh Army, he has held key command, staff and training roles, most recently serving as General Officer Commanding at the Army Training and Doctrine Command.

He also previously led the 10 Infantry Division and served as Area Commander in Cox’s Bazar, as well as Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College.

Alam holds a PhD in International Relations from Jahangirnagar University and has completed advanced studies in national security strategy at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.