Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, Bir Bikrom (12 November 1943 - 10 October 2010) was a Bangladesh Army officer who served as the adjutant general of Bangladesh army and an advisor of the caretaker government.
Moinul Hossain Chowdhury | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 November 1943 Sylhet, Assam, British India |
| Died | 10 October 2010 (aged 66) Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh Pakistan (before 1971) |
| Service | |
| Years of service | 1964-1998 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | East Bengal Regiment |
| Commands |
|
| Battles / wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Bangladesh Liberation War |
| Awards |  Bir Bikrom[1] |
Military career
editPakistan Army
editMoinul Hossain Chowdhury joined the Pakistan Army in 1962. He was appointed a Battalion Sergeant Major (BSM) in PMA. He was commissioned in 1964 in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment. He fought in the 1965 Indo-Pak War. He served as the ADC of the GOC of 14th Infantry Division and East Pakistan Chief Martial Law Administrator Major General Khadim Hussain Raja. In 1970, he was promoted to the rank of Major and was posted to 2nd East Bengal Regiment.
Liberation War of Bangladesh
editMoinul Hossain Chowdhury was posted to 2nd East Bengal Regiment in March 1971. At the end of March, he revolted from the Pakistan Army along with the 2nd East Bengal Regiment. He fought in Sector 2 till June. In June, when Z force was formed he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the 1st East Bengal Regiment. He served there till August. In September, when S Force was formed, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of 2nd East Bengal Regiment. On 16 December, he entered Dhaka with his Battalion and established his Headquarter at the Dhaka Stadium. On 10 January 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to Bangladesh then he gave him the Guard Of Honour.
Bangladesh Army
editHe served as the Commanding Officer of 2nd Eat Bengal Regiment till September 1972. In September 1972, he was appointed Military Secretary to President. In October 1972, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After 3 weeks of his appointment as Military Secretary to President, he was transferred to the 46th Independent Infantry Brigade as the Brigade Commander. In 1974, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. In March 1974, he was transferred to Army Headquarters as the Commander of Logistics Area of Dhaka Cantonment. In June 1975, he went to Yugoslavia as a member of a Military Delegation. Following his return to Bangladesh, then Army Chief Major General K M Shafiullah told him to take the charge of Adjutant General as the Adjutant General then Colonel (later Lt. General) Hussein Muhammad Ershad was sent to India for training. In July 1975, he was injured while playing Basketball and was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital. After staying there for 3 weeks on 12 August, he was discharged. In December 1975, he was appointed as the Councillor of NSI at the Embassy of Bangladesh in UK. He served there till November 1977. He was again appointed adjutant general of Bangladesh army in 1977. In 1978, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. He was appointed to the post of chief advisor of the Muktijoddha Sangsad by President Ziaur Rahman but was replaced by President Ershad.[2] He was later promoted to the rank of Major General in 1980. When President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated, it was his job to investigate the coup but he was sidelined by then army chief General Hussain Muhammad Ershad.[3] As a result, he did not sign order of inquiry which he was supposed to; Ershad ended up signing it.[4]
Post-military career
editIn October 1981, he was sent to Ministry of Foreign Affairs in deputation. He was appointed Ambassador of Bangladesh to Philippines in 1982. Later, he served as Ambassador of Bangladesh to Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Laos, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea. From 1989-1993, he served as the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in ESCAP. He retired in 1998.
He served as an advisor in the caretaker government of former chief justice Latifur Rahman. He served there as the advisor for Industry , Commerce, Post and telecommunication.[5][6]
Bibliography
editHe wrote Silent Witness of a General about his time in Bangladesh Army[7] along with several newspaper articles, both in English and Bangla.[8]
Death
editHe died on 10 October 2010.[8]
References
edit- ^ Bangladesh Gazette of 15 December 1973; Ministry of Liberation War Affairs
- ^ "Behind the curtains". The Daily Star. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ "Trial targeted freedom fighter officers". The Daily Star. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ "Drama over enquiry". The Daily Star. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ "Spotlight on former caretaker advisors". bdnews24.com. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ "Gen Moinuls contributions recalled". bangladesh2day.com. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ "BNP's rejoinder and our reply". The Daily Star. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Maj-Gen M. Hussain Chowdhury". The Daily Star. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2016.