Dhaka - Bangladesh's Awami League-led alliance government on Thursday appointed Lieutenant General Abdul Mubin Chowdhury as the country's new army chief, officials said.

General Mubin will replace General Moeen U Ahmed, who was apparently in the driving seat of the previous army-backed interim administration and had got his term of service extended by a year until June 15, 2009.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, who is also in charge of the Defence Ministry, has approved the appointment, said a senior official at the Prime Minister's Office.

Mubin was made principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division a year ago in a major reshuffle of top army posts. (dpa)