Tarique Ahmed Siddique is a retired major general of the Bangladesh Army and the former defence and security adviser to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.[1][2]
Tarique Siddique | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Tarique in 2022 | |
| Defence and Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh | |
| In office 25 January 2009 – 5 August 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Sheikh Hasina |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | TBD |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
| Branch/service |  Bangladesh Army Bangladesh Ansar Bangladesh Rifles |
| Years of service | 1975-2004 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | Corps of Engineers |
| Commands |
|
Personal life
editTarique Ahmed Siddique is the younger brother of Shafique Ahmed Siddique, the husband of Sheikh Rehana, the only surviving sister of Bangladeshi former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[3]
Career
editSiddique was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers on 11 January, 1975. He served as Platoon Leader and Company 2 i/c in Savar Engineering Brigade until 1976, when he was promoted to Lieutenant. Promoted to Captain in 1978, he served as GSO-3 (Engrs) of Rangpur Cantonment and Company Commander in Bandarban. He was promoted to Major in 1983, he served as an Adjutant of an Engineers Battalion in Alikadam till 1985 and as Commander of a Bangladesh Rifles Battalion in Khagrachhari till 1987. Thereafter he served as Brigade Major of 21st Infantry Brigade in Jessore until 1989. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1989 when he served in the DGFI, from where he was removed in 1991. From 1991 to 1994, he served as Staff Officer in Bangladesh Ansar Headquarters and from 1994 to 1996, as Deputy Chief Instructor in Engineer Centre and School of Military Engineering (ECSME). He was promoted to Colonel in 1996 and served for a time as Commanding Officer of 9 Engrs Battalion in Savar, and thereafter in the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence until 1998, after which he was assigned to the Special Security Force. He was promoted to Brigadier in 1999. From 2000 to 2001, he served as Deputy Commander of 9th Infantry Division (Bangladesh)[4] From 17 November 2001 to 17 March 2002, he served as the Engineer in Chief of the Bangladesh Army.[5] He was promoted to Major General in 2003 and served as Senior Instructor (Army) in Defense Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) Mirpur.
After retirement from active service, he was appointed as chief of personal security to Sheikh Hasina when she was the opposition leader. He was present during 2004 Dhaka grenade attack which tried to assassinate Sheikh Hasina.[6][7] He was appointed to the post of Adviser to Prime Minister in 2009.[8] He advises the Prime Minister on anti-terrorism activities.[9] He inaugurated the Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange in 2016.[10] He is a graduate of Defence Services Command & Staff College (DSCSC) Bangladesh. He has done RCDS course from Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) London, United Kingdom.
In 2012, a report by Salah Choudhury published in openDemocracy raised allegations that Colonel Shahid Uddin Khan was engaged in influence peddling and corrupt practices with the backing of Siddique. According to the report, Khan has a number of business in which Siddique's wife and daughter are shareholders.[11] According to an Al Jazeera Investigative Unit report, published on 29 March 2019, Siddique used intelligence agencies to abduct employees of a business associate. The business associate, Colonel Shahid Uddin Khan, is currently in exile in the United Kingdom. The family members of men have no heard from them since their abduction. As defence advisor, he had control over the intelligence agencies and military of Bangladesh.[12]
It is alleged that Tarique Ahmed Siddique was one of the masterminds of the formation of the ‘Aynaghar’, an arbitrary detention and torture cell of the Awami League Government.[13]
References
edit- ^ "PM's security adviser pats armed forces, says military in Bangladesh gets 'nothing extra'". bdnews24.com. 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023.
- ^ "Singapore and Bangladesh reaffirm warm bilateral relations, discuss ways to deepen engagement". The Straits Times. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Bangladesh PM advisors accused of massive corruption". The Lahore Times. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "PM's adviser sees criminal link of Limon, his father". The Daily Star. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Military Engineer Services". mes.org.bd. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "A close shave". The Daily Star. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Minutes of MASSACRE". The Daily Star. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Advisor to the PM". The Daily Star. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "How to tackle the scourge of the world". The Asian Age. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Lightning deaths prevention to get priority in US, Bangladesh civil-military exercise". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ Choudhury, Salah Uddin Shoaib (17 April 2012). "Bangladesh: journey of fear towards an uncertain future". openDemocracy. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Exclusive: Bangladesh top security adviser accused of abductions". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Families of enforced disappearance victims gather at Shaheed Minar, demand their return". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 30 August 2024.