A lieutenant colonel of Bangladesh Army, who is in coma since 2013, has been promoted to the colonel rank on his last day of office.
The armed force officer, Dewan Mohammad Tasawar Raja was honoured with the promotion on October 12, Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate Director Lt Col Abdullah Ibn Zaid confirmed to Dhaka Tribune.
Colonel Raja has been in coma following a cardiac arrest in 2013 and is undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.
On Colonel Raja's last day at office, Bangladesh Army chief General Aziz Ahmed adorned him with the position.
According to the doctors, Raja suffered hypoxic ischemic injury to the brain.
Hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIBI) after cardiac arrest creates long-term neurological disability in survivors, according to different journals.
Born in 1967 in Sylhet, Raja is the great grandson and direct heir of Dewan Hason Raja, famous mystical poet and songwriter.
He was commissioned from Bangladesh Military Academy with 20th BMA Long Course on 23 June 1989.
The officer commanded the Tank Regiment 12 Lancers, which became the best unit in the formation in 2008. He served in Armour School and Infantry School as a Distinguished tactics instructor.
Raja participated in UN peace missions in Iraq-Kuwait (UNIKOM: 1996) and Sudan (UNMIS: 2007), and was awarded with the Peace Medal twice.
He visited at least 45 countries of Asia, America, Europe, and Africa.
He also authored different publications including Hason Raja Shomogro (2000), Bangladesh Armoured Corps (2010), and O General My General - Gen M A G Osmany (2010).