DHAKA, Oct 12: The government of Bangladesh on Sunday cancelled the order of promotion of former Chief of the Army Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman as General. President Iajuddin Ahmed approved the government's decision on Sunday, as it was taken in pursuance of a recommendation of the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Defence, said an Inter-Services Public Relations Department press released on Monday.

The government found that the erstwhile President, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, did not give ascent to the proposal for promotion of Mustafiz, which was approved by the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina on December 18, 2000.

The ISPR further said that there was no post of General in the structure of Bangladesh Army. Lt-Gen Mustafizur Rahman was awarded with the promotion on the day of his retirement.

Mustafizur Rahman recently kicked up a controversy by issuing statements contradicting the views of the Army Headquarters relating to the August 21 grenade attack at an Awami League rally.