Khalilur Rahman | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament forJamalpur-5 | |
| In office 10 July 1986 – 6 December 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Syed Abdus Sobhan |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Reza Khan |
| 2ndDirector General of Bangladesh Rifles | |
| In office 22 February 1974 – 31 October 1975 | |
| President | Mohammad Mohammadullah Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad |
| Prime Minister | Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Muhammad Mansur Ali |
| Preceded by | Chitta Ranjan Dutta |
| Succeeded by | Quazi Golam Dastgir |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1927 |
| Died | 20 April 2009(2009-04-20) (aged 82) |
| Alma mater | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan (Before 1973) Bangladesh |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1950–1976 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | East Bengal Regiment |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars | |
Khalilur Rahman was amajor general ofBangladesh Army and former director general ofBangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) and formerChief of Defence Staff.[1]
Khalilur Rahman was born on 1 January 1927 in Nandina,Jamalpur ofBengal Presidency thenBritish India (now inMymensingh, Bangladesh). He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Economics fromPresidency College, Calcutta. He later joined thePakistan Military Academy in 1948 and commissioned inEast Bengal Regiment in 1950. He was graduated fromStaff College, Camberley.
He had started his career by joining thePakistan Army in 1948. He was commissioned in the Pakistan Army on 26 August 1950 and was posted to theEast Bengal Regimental Centre.Later in 1952 he was posted to1st East Bengal Regiment which was inJessore Cantonment.At the time of his posting in the 1st East Bengal Regiment Lieutenant ColonelM.A.G. Osmani was the Commanding Officer. He served as the general staff officer second grade at theCENTO Headquarters inAnkara, Turkey. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 22 September 1966 and became the CO of 5th East Bengal Regiment. On 16 May 1970, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and posted toI Corps headquarters.[2] Later, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier on 29 May 1971. During theBangladesh Liberation War, he was posted inGeneral Headquarters as a Director of Defense Security Force.
He repatriated to Bangladesh in 1973 after its independence in 1971.[3] He was theDirector General of Bangladesh Rifles from 22 February 1974 to 31 October 1975.[4] On 15 May 1975, he was promoted to the rank of Major General. He was the director general during theAssassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the President of Bangladesh.[5] He later stated that the BDR was ready for action but he chose not to follow through after he heard the three service chiefs pledge their loyalty on Bangladesh Radio.[6]
He pledged allegiance to the new government onBangladesh Radio after the assassination.[7] He becameChief of Defence Staff (CDS), whose position and power was above the chiefs of the three defence forces after 15 August coup.[8]
After the7 November coup, he preventedGeneral Zia from being theChief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA), by arguing that that position should lie withPresident Sayem. This hurt his relationship with Zia as it delayed Zia's plan of eventually taking over power.[8]
After retirement from Army, Khalilur Rahman joinedBangladesh Awami League. He contested in 1986 Parliamentary Elections as candidate of Awami League fromJamalpur-5. He won the election and was elected to the parliament. In 1991, he contested from the same constituency but lost the election toSirajul Huq. In 1996, he again participated in the election but this time as a candidate ofGono Forum. He lost the election toRezaul Karim Hira.
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| Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965) | Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956 |
He died on 20 April 2009
