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A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman

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Major General
A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman
Rahman talking with a peacekeeper stationed in Bihać during the Yugoslav War, 1994
12th Director General of Bangladesh Rifles
In office
29 February 2000 – 11 July 2001
PresidentShahabuddin Ahmed
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byMohammad Azizur Rahman
Succeeded byMohammad Abu Ishaque Ibrahim
Military service
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch/service
Years of service1971–2001
Rank Major General
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Commands
Battles/wars

A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman[a][b] is a veteran who served as a two star officer of the Bangladesh Army and director general of Bangladesh Rifles.[1] As of May 2025, Rahman has been working as a security analyst for the Government of Bangladesh.[2]

Education

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Rahman acquired his temporary commission from Dacca in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment during the Bangladesh War of Independence. His brigade commander lieutenant colonel K. M. Shafiullah cited him as a fierce and sincere officer under his command at the battle of Shiromoni. After the war, Rahman finished his military training from the Turkish Military Academy till 1973. Rahman is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College and furthermore one of the pioneer batch of international officers at the National Defence University of Malaysia on 1995. [3]

Military career

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Rahman commanded one company under the 4th East Bengal Regiment and two infantry battalions at Jessore Cantonment and Cumilla Cantonment respectively. As colonel, Rahman was sector commander Bangladesh Rifles in Rangpur District and colonel administrative at Bogra area headquarters. He was soon promoted to brigadier general on 1993 and was designated as commandant of the School of Infantry and Tactics. He was then ameliorated major general on March 1997 and appointed as general officer commanding of 33rd infantry division and area commander Comilla area. Rahman tenured on Comilla for three years till his recall to Ministry of Home Affairs on February 2000. Rahman's renowned unforeseeable nature led him to a truncated retirement on September 2001 as ambassador of Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the First Hasina ministry and then the Latifur Rahman ministry. He founded the citizens' organisation Nirdolio Jono Andolon (lit. 'Non-partisan People's Movement') on April 2004.[4]

On December 2024, he was appointed as the chairman of the National Independent Commission, assigned to reinvestigate the killings in Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009.[5] The commission will be investigating both the domestic and foreign involvement in the incident within a specified three-month time frame.[6]

As Director General of Bangladesh Riffles

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Further information: 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes

Rahman was made the chief of Bangladesh Rifles on 29 February 2000.[7] His short rule of BDR is noted for being the most progressive jurisdiction with Bangladesh's bordering neighbours.[3] Rahman was in command during the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border skirmish on 2000 at Teknaf. These disputes escalated eight years later on 2008 Bangladesh–Myanmar naval standoff. [8]

On April 2001, a conflict occurred within the bordering regions between India's eastern region and Northern Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Rifles claimed that the village of Pyrdiwah had been illegally occupied by India since Bangladesh Liberation War.[9] Border Security Force is the primary defence force of Indian borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan. Their post in Padua village was encircled, trapping 31 Border security troops. However, Bangladesh Rifles and the Border Security Force held their fire and began negotiations. 3 Border security companies proceeded to reinforce the outpost. This incident was resolved later without any bloodshed.[10]

After the Padua incident, a company of 300 Border security troops entered Kurigram near the village of Boraibari as a planned counter-attack to retaliate after the earlier incident in Padua.[11] After entering Bangladeshi territory, the Border security force troops were ambushed by at least 4 battalions of the Bangladesh Rifles and the Indian counterattack failed as a result.[12] Along with that, the Bangladesh Rifles battalions were assisted by hundreds of villagers. Boraibari clashes ended on 21 April 2001, after both sides agreed to a ceasefire. The clashes left a total of 21 people dead, including 16 Indian soldiers and 3 Bangladeshi Rifles soldier. Soon after three months later, he left the office of director general preceding major general Abu Ishaque Ibrahim.[13][14]

United Nations peacekeeping missions

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Rahman was the first contingent commander of Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994 where he served during Battle of Orašje and the Siege of Bihać. He served with the initial forces of the future United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (formed in December that year) until May 1995.

Personal life

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He has expressed his displeasure towards India's activities in Bangladesh and has spoken out against India's influence in country.[15]

On 29 April 2025, following the 2025 India–Pakistan standoff, Rahman suggested in a Facebook post that Bangladesh should annex India's seven northeastern states if India invades Pakistan and urged the government to make "a joint military arrangement" with China on this regard. This remark sparked controversy among Indians who perceived this provocative and drew it's connection to the interim government due to the Rahman's association with the government. Later the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh clarified this remark as "entirely personal" that "do not reflect the position or policies of the Government of Bangladesh".[16]

References

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Footnotes

  1. ^ Bengali: আ ল ম ফজলুর রহমান
  2. ^ ndu, psc

Citations

  1. ^ "Delhi, Dhaka agree to ensure border peace". The Hindu. 14 April 2000. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  2. ^ Hussain, Maaz. "Many in Bangladesh Oppose Proposed Defense Pact With India". VOA. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b Gupta, Shishir (7 May 2001). "BDR chief Major-General A.L.M. Fazlur Rehman advocates tough line on India and Myanmar". India Today. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Ex-BDR chief floats political platform". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  5. ^ "BDR massacre commission to identify local, foreign conspiracies: chief". New Age (Bangladesh). Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Fazlur Rahman: Commission to thoroughly investigate 2009 BDR tragedy". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Border Guard Bangladesh". Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  8. ^ Ahmed, Tanver (25 September 2017). বাংলাদেশ মিয়ানমার যুদ্ধ : প্রসঙ্গ ও বাস্তবতা [Bangladesh-Myanmar War: Context and Reality]. Jago News 24 (in Bengali).
  9. ^ "Analysis: Surprising outbreak of hostilities". 19 April 2001. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Barbaric killing of BSF jawans puts India-Bangladesh relations under severe strain". India Today. 2001-05-07. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  11. ^ Ranjan, Amit (2018). "India–Bangladesh Border Disputes". South Asia Economic and Policy Studies. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-8384-6. ISBN 978-981-10-8383-9. ISSN 2522-5502.
  12. ^ "A brush with Bangladesh". 22 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  13. ^ Ranjan, Amit (30 October 2018). India–Bangladesh Border Disputes: History and Post-LBA Dynamics. Springer. ISBN 978-981-10-8384-6.
  14. ^ "India-Bangladesh border still tense after worst clash in 30 years". World Socialist Web Site. 21 May 2001. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  15. ^ Hali, Sultan M. "Resistance against India in BD". The Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Fazlur Rahman's remark on Indian states entirely personal, says foreign ministry". bdnews24.com. 2 March 2025.
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