Dhaka, June 15 (DPA): General Abdul Mubeen took up his new assignment Monday as Bangladesh's army chief, an official announcement said.

Mubeen replaced General Moeen U. Ahmed, who had reportedly played a crucial role in installing a military-backed government through a coup in early 2007 which ran the country for two years.

Mubeen, the principal staff officer to the Armed Forces Division, was promoted to the position of a four-star general from lieutenant general only hours before taking his new post.

The new elected government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed named Mubeen as army chief June 4. The prime minister also holds the defence portfolio.

A contingent of armed forces presented outgoing chief Moeen, who headed the armed forces for the last four years, a guard of honour at the army headquarters where he was seen off in an armoured vehicle in line with the army tradition.