Template:Infobox military person
Golam Helal Morshed Khan is a retired Major General of the Bangladesh Army and veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was awarded Bir Bikrom, third highest gallantry award, for his actions in the war.[1] He participated in the 1996 Bangladeshi coup d'état attempt.[2][3]
Career
During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Khan was lieutenant in the Mukti Bahini and served in Kalkalia of Sector 3.[4][5] This second was commanded by Major K. M. Shafiullah who was later replaced by Major A. N. M. Nuruzzaman.[4] The neighboring camp was commanded by M Harun-Ar-Rashid who had borrowed weapons from Khan's camp.[6] Khan fought in the battle to liberate Ashuganj in a joint operation between the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini.[7] He fought in the first and second battle of Belonia.[8]
Khan fought in the Liberation of Mirpur in 1972 as a captain in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment of the Bangladesh Army and commander of Delta Company.[9] After the surrender of Pakistan Army and the independence of Bangladesh, Mirpur was the last stronghold of pro-Pakistan forces.[9] He commanded the Bangladeshi forces composed 82 personnel of Bangladesh Army and 200 personnel of Bangladesh Police.[9] His commanding officer was Major Moinul Hossain Chowdhury who sent Second Lieutenant Selim Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, who was killed in action, to support him.[9][10] The battle saw heavy gunfights between his forces and collaborators of Pakistan Army.[9] After losing 42 army personnel and 82 police personnel Khan retreated from Mirpur to an Indian army base.[9] Mirpur was liberated after reinforcements were sent from different cantonments of Bangladesh.[9]
Major General Khan was the GOC of Bogra Cantonment in 1996.[11][12] He criticised the government following the February 1996 Bangladeshi general election, which was boycotted by all parties except the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party who won,[13] and in response President of Bangladesh Abdur Rahman Biswas sacked him and deputy chief of Bangladesh Rifles, Brigadier General Hameedur Rehman.[11] Army chief general Abu Saleh Mohammed Nasim revolted and launched the failed 1996 Bangladeshi coup d'état attempt with support of troops from Bogra Cantonment.[11] In the June 1996 Bangladeshi general election, the Awami League was elected to power.[13]
Khan is the chairman of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad.[14]
References
- ↑ Helal for Liberation War spirit in new generations | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh, Desk, Countrywide. The Asian Age. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ BANGLADESH'S ARMY CHIEF FIRED. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ Bangladesh ex-army chief arrested. UPI. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ::: Star Campus :::. archive.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ Muktijuddho (Bangladesh Liberation War 1971) - Eleven (11) Sectors - History of Bangladesh. www.londoni.co. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ Operation Kalachara Tea Garden, Harun-ar-rashid, M.. The Daily Star(2018-03-26). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ Ashuganj got freedom in Liberation War today | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh. The Asian Age. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ BATTLES OF BELONIA BULGE, Mustafa, FF Ghulam. The Daily Star(2017-12-16). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Mirpur: The tale of the last battle. The Business Standard(2021-12-16). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ The last battlefield, Alamgir, Mohiuddin. The Daily Star(2021-01-31). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Bangladeshi President Fires Army Chief. Los Angeles Times(1996-05-21). Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ Coercion and Governance: The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia{{#if:Alagappa|, Alagappa}. Stanford University Press(2001). ISBN 978-0-8047-4227-6
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Shaikh Hasina Takes Over From Khalida Zia in Successful Bangladesh Election. WRMEA. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
- ↑ 'We Answered the Call'. The Daily Star(2021-03-08). Retrieved 2022-10-20.