Mohammad Abdur Rab (Bir Uttam)
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.
Mohammad Abdur Rab | |
|---|---|
| Native name | মোহাম্মদ আবদুর রব |
| Born | 1919 Habiganj, Sylhet District, Assam Province, British India (present-day Habiganj, Sylhet, Bangladesh) |
| Died | 1975 (aged 55–56) Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Allegiance | British India (1942-1947) Pakistan (before 1971) Bangladesh |
| Service/ | British Indian Army (1942-1947) Pakistan Army (1947-1967) Bangladesh Army (1971-1972) |
| Rank |
|
| Unit | Army Services Corps |
| Commands held | Staff SSD Unit of Pakistan Army. Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Army. |
Early life
Abdur-Rab was born at village of Khagaura under Baniachong of Habiganj in 1919. A lifelong bachelor, he was elected as lawmaker from the Jatiya Sangsad constituency comprising Baniachang and Ajmiriganj thanas.[1]
Death
Abdur-Rab died 14 November 1975[2] 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. [3]
After independence of Bangladesh
Abdur Rab retired from Bangladesh Army soon after Independence due to poor health, similar to M. A. G Osmani. 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.[4]
References
- ^ Hossain, Abu Md. Delwar (2012). "Rob, Major General MA". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ^ "MA Rab". News Today. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "Behind the Scene". Star Insight. The Daily Star. November 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ . Cabinet Division (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
মরহুম মেজর জেনারেল মোহাম্মদ আবদুর রব (বীর উত্তম) – স্বাধীনতা ও মুক্তিযুদ্ধ [Late Major General Mohammad Abdur Rab (retd) – Liberation War]