Gulzar Uddin Ahmed

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Colonel
Gulzar Uddin Ahmed
গুলজার উদ্দিন আহমেদ
Personal details
Born11 March 1964
Brahmanbaria, East Pakistan, Pakistan (now Chittagong, Bangladesh)
Died25 February 2009(2009-02-25) (aged 44)
Pilkhana, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Manner of deathAssassination
SpouseFatema Sultana
Children2 daughters
Alma mater
Military Training
Bangladesh Military Academy
NicknameGullu
Military service
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch/service Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Rifles
Years of service1983-2009
Rank Colonel
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Commands
Battles/warsBangladesh Rifles revolt †
Police career
UnitRapid Action Battalion
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Police
Service years2004–2009
Rank Additional Director
Awards BPM (bar)

Gulzar Uddin Ahmed (Bengali: গুলজার উদ্দিন আহমেদ), also known as Colonel Gulzar Ahmed, was the founding director of the intelligence wing and also served Additional Director General of Rapid Action Battalion. Until his death, he was a Colonel of the Bangladesh Army and also Sector Commander and Deputy Director General of Bangladesh Rifles.[1][2]

Career[edit]

On 26 March 2004, when Rapid Action Battalion or RAB was founded, Ahmed was deputed from Bangladesh Army to the role of commanding officer of RAB-3 division.[3] Mominullah David, Jubo Dal leader and accused in 31 criminal cases, was killed in a shootout with RAB officers under Ahmed's command in Malibagh in November 2004.[4] Founder of Purbo Banglar Communist Party Mofakkhar Hossain, also known as Mahamud Hasan, shootout with RAB officers from RAB-3 in December 2004.[5]

In 2005, the first intelligence wing of Rapid Action Battalion was formed and Ahmed was appointed to work as the chief intelligence wing of Rapid Action Battalion.[1] He and Abdul Aziz Sarkar went to Taskforce for Interrogation Cell to interrogate Mufti Hannan over the 21 August 2004 Dhaka grenade attack in presence of Criminal Investigation Department officer Munshi Atiqur Rahman.[6]

Ahmed was notable for anti-terrorism activity against religious extremism in Bangladesh. He was the mastermind of the operation in March 2006 which led to arrest of hundreds of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen members, a Bangladeshi terrorist group, and 6 top leaders including Shaykh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai.[2] He led the operation to arrest Shaykh Abdur Rahman in Sylhet on 2 March 2006.[7] He led the operation to arrest Bangla Bhai in Mymensingh on 2 March 2006.[8] He led the raid that killed Shakil alias Mollah Omar (not to be confused with Mullah Omar of Afghanistan), bomb expert of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, in Comilla on 14 March 2006.[9] His team also successfully captured large stock of explosives, nitric acid and grenades belonging to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen in November 2008.[1] His work against terrorism made him a "National Hero".[2]

In 2006, Ahmed was promoted to Colonel and was transferred to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) currently known as Border Guards Bangladesh. Later, he was transferred to Rapid Action Battalion as additional director general.[1][10] He reported the arrest of AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, former member of parliament from Bangladesh Nationalist Party, by RAB on corruption charges on 5 September 2007.[11] He oversaw training of RAB in human rights from the British High Commission to Bangladesh.[12]

In January 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appointed him as the Sylhet Sector commander of Bangladesh Rifles (renamed as Border Guards Bangladesh).[1][13][14]

Death[edit]

Ahmed was assassinated in the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny while attending the annual gathering of all sector commanders of Bangladesh Rifles on 26 February 2009.[15][16] He had called for help but did not get any response during the mutiny.[17] Beside Gulzar Ahmed, all other commanders who were present at the gathering were also assassinated.[1][18] His body was found ten days after the mutiny with visible signs of torture.[2] It had to be identified using DNA test.[19] He was buried in Banani Army Graveyard.[19] It was speculated that he was killed in revenge by terrorists.[2][3][20]

Personal life[edit]

Ahmed married Fatema Sultana.[21] They had two daughters.[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh by Syedur Rahman, Fourth Edition, Scarecrow Press, United Kingdom, 2010, p. 11
  2. ^ a b c d e Montero, David (2010-07-22). "Mutiny in Bangladesh: unsolved mystery threatens regional stability". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  3. ^ a b "Terror struck back at its buster". The Daily Star. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  4. ^ "Top N'ganj criminal, Jubo Dal leader David dies in Rab action". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  5. ^ "PBCP founder Mofakkhar killed in Rab action". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  6. ^ Ch, Julfikar Ali Manik with Chaitanya; Halder, ra (2012-08-18). "A test for investigators". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  7. ^ Manik, Julfikar Ali. "Secret lies with Rahman". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  8. ^ Manik, Julfikar Ali; Ashraf, Shamim. "Tyrant Bangla Bhai finally captured". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  9. ^ Manik, Julfikar Ali; Ashraf, Shamim. "Rab kills JMB bomber; his wife, 2 kids blown off". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  10. ^ "Voicebox". Star Weekend. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  11. ^ "Ex-MP Fazlul Haque Milon arrested". The Daily Star. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  12. ^ "Duncan Brown, SCO, British High Commission, giving away certificate to a participant of the training on Thursday". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  13. ^ "Mutiny, bloodshed at BDR HQ". The Daily Star. 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  14. ^ "Col Gulzar, another officer identified". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  15. ^ Manik, Julfikar Ali (2009-03-01). "72 officers still remain missing". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  16. ^ a b Islam, Shariful (2010-02-25). "A vacation never came true". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  17. ^ "Witness testifies about killing of Col Mujib". The Daily Star. 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  18. ^ "RAB steps into 13th year tomorrow". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  19. ^ a b "Four army officers laid to rest". The Daily Star. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  20. ^ "Dhaka sees terror link in border guards' mutiny". Hindustan Times. 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  21. ^ "Justice kept in wait, still". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
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