Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque
- Director General
- Bangladesh Coast Guard
Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Hoque, OSP, ndc, afwc, psc, MPhil joined Bangladesh Coast Guard as 15th Director General on 31 October 2024.
Rear Admiral Zia passed from Sylhet Cadet College with distinction in 1988 and joined Bangladesh Navy on 01 January 1989. He underwent Naval Officer’s Training Course in Germany and was commissioned in Executive Branch on 01 July 1991. Rear Admiral has more than 35 years of naval career with impeccable records. His career has fine blend of command, staff and instructional appointments. He commanded five warships of different types, ranging from patrol craft to frigate of Bangladesh Navy. He has also commanded one Operational Base and a Training Base namely BNS ULKA and BNS SHAHEED MOAZZAM respectively. In instructional field, Rear Admiral Zia contributed immensely. He was Instructor of TAS School, Training Coordinating Officer in BNA, Training Commander of Training Ship BNS UMAR FAROOQ and Senior Instructor (Navy) in DSC&SC, Mirpur. He also served in Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) from 1996 to 1999. The Rear Admiral served as Commander Operational Sea Training Guide, Chief Staff Officer to Commander BN Fleet, SO (Ops & Plans) in NHQ, Director of Naval Operations of NHQ and Managing Director, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation under Ministry of Shipping. The Rear Admiral Commanded COMMODORE NAVAL AVIATION (COMNAV) for about a year. Prior taking over the current portfolio as Director General, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Zia held the prestigious appointment as Senior Directing Staff (Navy) at National Defence College (NDC).
Apart from all mandatory training, Rear Admiral Zia had undergone number of training courses both home and abroad. He is an alumni of Defence Service Command & Staff Course, Mirpur, Armed Force Command and Staff Course, Saudi Arabia, Senior Staff Course (83th), Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, Savar, Armed Forces War Course, National Defence College, Mirpur, Dhaka and National Defence Course, India. Some of the others mentionable courses are Interrogation Course, NSITC; Basic Intelligence Course, SMI; Long Anti- Submarine Warfare Course at India, Submarine Fire Control Coordination Course from Turkey, Arabic Language Course, French Language Course, Maritime Port & Harbour Security Management Course, Contingent Commander Course etc. He participated in the United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast as Military Observer. Due to his distinguished service in Navy, he has been awarded Extraordinary Service Medal (OSP) and National Integrity Award in 2023.
The Rear Admiral is married to Mrs Farhana Begum and blessed with two sons and one daughter. He likes to pass his time reading, travelling and occasionally playing golf.
Sessions
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Maritime and Big Rivers
Maritime and Big Rivers: Bangladesh Perspective
Maritime borders present some of the most difficult and challenging environments facing agencies at the border worldwide. Archipelago nations like Indonesia and the Philippines have vast maritime territories with thousands of islands to surveil and patrol with limited resources and changing weather conditions. And maritime borders don’t stop at the coast. Multi-national river systems like those of the Danube, Nile, Mekong, Niger and Rhine take the maritime environment deep into the hinterland with overlapping jurisdictions that can lead to confusion, often making it difficult to establish a consistent security presence. These geographic and political complexities necessitate enhanced cooperation and communication among nations to develop integrated security strategies that respect sovereignty while effectively addressing transnational threats.