M. Atiqur Rahman[a] (1 September 1931 – 20 December 2023) was a three star general and Bangladesh'sChief of Army Staff from 1986 to 1990. He was the longest serving director general ofBangladesh Rifles.
M. Atiqur Rahman was born inMurshidabad. He studied at Union Academy,Delhi, India. His father Abdur Rahman was an Officer in Ministry of Defence. After the partition of India, his father was sent to Rawalpindi where he attended Gordon College,Rawalpindi. He earned his B.Sc. Degree from there.
Atiqur Rahman joined thePakistan Army on 28 August 1951. He was commissioned from 9th PMA Long Course on 13 March 1954 in thePakistan Army's artillery regiment. He was posted to the 20 Heavy Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment. As a Major, he served as the Ground testing Officer in Inter Service Selection Board. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he served as the Commanding Officer of 13 LAA Regiment.[2]
Rahman could not join theBangladesh Liberation War, as he was held as a prisoner of war (POW) in West Pakistan. He was repatriated fromPakistan in 1974 and was allowed to join theBangladesh Army.[3] He was the second repatriated officer to become Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff afterErshad. On 13 November 1973, he was appointed as the Director of Department of Artillery. On 15 May 1974, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. He was appointed as the firstColonel Commandant of theRegiment of Artillery.
During theassassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he was a Colonel and was posted as Director at Army Headquarters. On 23 October 1975, he was appointed as the Commander of 65th Independent Infantry Brigade. On 19 April 1976, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. On 17 July, he established the24th Infantry Division. Later, he was appointed as theQuartermaster General at Army Headquarters. On 25 August, he was promoted to the rank of Major General.
Rahman served as director general of theBangladesh Rifles (now the Bangladesh Border Guard) from 1977 to 1982.[4] He played a crucial role in Ershad's bloodless coup in 1982.[5] Later on 25 May 1983, he was appointed as the principal staff officer ofSupreme Command Headquarters. Rahman returned to army headquarters for serving as theadjutant general of the army in February 1986.[6]
Rahman being the senior most Major General, Ershad promoted M Atiqur to the rank ofLieutenant General and appointed him asChief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army on 1 September 1986.[7]
As army chief, he was crucial to the introduction of Bangladesh military personnenl into theUN peacekeeping forces. As the Bangladesh Army was infantry-heavy, he encouraged officers from other corps, such as Artillery and Signal Corps, to serve in infantry roles in theChittagong Hill Tracts. He later pointed out that this was crucial to the military's later success in the UN peacekeeping forces.[6]
He also pulled the military away from politics and chose not to intevene during the anti-Ershad protests. This would later be emulated by his successors as well.[3]
Rahman retired from the Bangladesh Army with full military honours in August 1990. He was succeeded byNuruddin Khan as appointed by President Hussain Muhammad Ershad.[3]
In 1961, he was married to Begum Munira Mohabbat. They had two sons and one daughter. Begum Munira Died in 2010.
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| Nirapattya Padak (Nirapattya Padak) | |||
| Joy Padak (Joy Padak) | Songbidhan Padak (Songbidhan Padak) | Jesthata Padak III (Jesthata Padak III) | Jesthata Padak II (Jesthata Padak II) |
| Jesthata Padak I (Jesthata Padak I) | Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965) | Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965) | Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956 |
After retirement General Atiqur Rahman stayed away from public eye and did not pursue a political career.
In November of 2023, "Retired Gunner Officers" of the Bangladesh Army organised a meet and greet function for him at the RAOWA club.[6] In that event, General Rahman recounted his past experiences and advised the military to study new military tactics to adapt to the battles of the future.[6]
Atiqur Rahman later died from a heart attack in Dhaka, on 20 December 2023, at the age of 92.[8]
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