Lieutenant General Mohammad Asadullah Minhazul Alam of Bangladesh has reportedly been withdrawn from his assignment as UNFICYP commander following written complaints concerning his alleged conduct towards subordinate officers, according to a report by Northeast News.
The report, published on September 9, states that Minhazul Alam returned to Bangladesh on September 4 on a commercial flight from Cyprus. His return was initially presented officially as a personal visit involving three days of leave, but the publication subsequently reported that he had been withdrawn from his United Nations assignment.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the precise circumstances surrounding his departure remain unclear.
Complaints reportedly made by two officers
According to Northeast News, complaints were reportedly submitted by the commander’s aide-de-camp (ADC) and another officer serving with the mission.
The complaints allegedly concerned what sources described as harsh and inappropriate behaviour towards the ADC. The report states that the complaints were brought before a United Nations medical or psychiatric service.
However, the precise content of the complaints has not been made public.
It is also unclear whether the allegations were subject to a formal United Nations investigation or whether any finding was made against the UNFICYP commander. The report does not establish that any misconduct has been proven.
Other allegations remain unconfirmed
The report also contains claims concerning administrative facilities or privileges that Minhazul Alam allegedly sought or obtained.
However, the nature of these claims, as well as whether they resulted in any disciplinary finding, has not been established.
Until the complaints or any findings from an investigation are made public, the allegations against Minhazul Alam remain unproven.
He took command earlier this year
UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of then-Major General Minhazul Alam as Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus on April 9, 2026. He succeeded Major General Erdenebat Batsuuri of Mongolia.
The UN said Minhazul Alam had more than 30 years of leadership and command experience in the Bangladesh Army. Before his appointment to UNFICYP, he served as General Officer Commanding of the Army Training and Doctrine Command. He had also served as General Officer Commanding of the 10 Infantry Division and Area Commander of Cox’s Bazar between 2024 and 2026, as well as Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College in 2024.
He assumed his duties in Cyprus in June.
Questions remain over his departure
Several questions remain unanswered, including who made the decision to withdraw him from the mission, whether a formal process was initiated within the United Nations and whether Minhazul Alam was given an opportunity to respond to the complaints.
Northeast News also reported that it could not independently establish the exact sequence of events leading to his return to Bangladesh.
SigmaLive has contacted the UNFICYP Press Office for further clarification and has not received a response so far.
The United Nations’ publicly available UNFICYP material confirms Minhazul Alam’s appointment in April but does not currently provide information on the reported complaints or his withdrawal.
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