Mohammad Abdur Rab

Mohammad Abdur Rab, Bir Uttom (Bengali: মোহাম্মদ আব্দুর রব; 1919–1975) also known as M A Rab, was the first Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 10 April 1971 till 6 April 1972.

Major General Mohammad Abdur Rab Bir Uttom
Native name	মোহাম্মদ আবদুর রব
Born	1 January 1919 Baniachong, Assam, British India
Died	14 November 1975(1975-11-14) (aged 56) CMH, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Allegiance	British India (before 1947) Pakistan (before 1971) Bangladesh
Service / branch	British Indian Army Pakistan Army Bangladesh Army
Years of service	1944 - 1972
Rank	Major General
Unit	Army Services Corps
Commands	Staff SSD Unit of Pakistan Army Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Army
Battles / wars	World War II Burma campaign Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Bangladesh Liberation War
Awards	Bir Uttom Independence Day Award

Early life

Abdur-Rab was born at village of Khagaura under Baniachong of Habiganj on 1 January 1919. His father was a leader of local Panchayat. He was the elder one among three brothers. He obtained his primary education from local primary school. He was admitted to Habiganj Government High School from there he completed his matriculation in 1935. In 1937 he completed his I.Sc from Murari Chand College and B.Sc from the same college in Geography in 1939. Later he obtained Master degree in Geography from Aligarh Muslim University in 1942.

Military Career

In 1943 he joined the British Indian Army. After finishing his training from D.T.M. he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in 1944. He fought in the Burma front in the World War II. In 1947 he joined the Pakistan Army after the partition of India. He served as Adjutant in Pakistan Army. He later served as a staff Major and was eventually raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. When he was serving as a embarkation Commandant in Chittagong Cantonment he retired in January 1970.

Liberation war of Bangladesh

After the crackdown of Pakistan Army he grew up a force with Major Chitta Ranjan Dutta in Sylhet to defend the Pakistan Army. After the fall of Sylhet he went to India like others. On 11 July 1971 he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of Mukti Bahini and Group Captain A. K. Khandker was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff. He established his Headquarter at Agartala, Tripura, India. He was appointed as the Chairman of Eastern Regional Council. On 16 December 1971 while visiting Sylhet with then Colonel M A G Osmani their helicopter was attacked by Pakistan Army and he was injured. He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1972. He retired from Army in April 1972.

Political Career

A lifelong bachelor, he contested in the General Election of 1970 and was elected as Member of National Assembly as candidate Awami League. After the independence of Bangladesh he was elected as lawmaker from the Jatiya Sangsad constituency comprising Baniachang and Ajmiriganj thanas in 1973.

After independence of Bangladesh

Abdur Rab was appointed as the Chairman of Bangladesh Freedom Fighter Welfare Trust after his retirement from army. Rumors were spread that Rab was awarded the gallantry medal which his deputy chief of staff (Army) A. K. Khandker conveniently took. Rab was awarded the Independence Day Award posthumously in 2000.

Death

Abdur-Rab died on 14 November 1975 at the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka at age 56. He had been suffering from ailments including anemia. He was laid to rest at his village of khagaura on the banks of Khowai River in Habiganj.

His younger brother Abdur Rahim said that no pension was paid to any of his family members. Abdur Rab's grave is at the district headquarters of Habiganj. Other than some local freedom fighters, nobody was seen to go visit the site, even on the country's national days.