Muhammed Abul Manzur
Native name | মোহাম্মদ আবুল মঞ্জুর |
---|---|
Born | Gupinathpur, Bengal, British India | 24 February 1940
Died | 1 June 1981 Chittagong, Bangladesh | (aged 41)
Allegiance | |
Service/ | |
Years of service | 1957-1981 |
Rank | |
Unit | East Bengal Regiment |
Commands held |
|
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Bir Uttom[1] Maroon Parachute Wing |
Alma mater | Armanitola Government High School PAF College Sargodha Pakistan Military Academy |
Spouse(s) | Rana Yasmeen Manzur[citation needed] |
Children | 4 |
Muhammed Abul Manzur BU (24 February 1940 – 1 June 1981) was a Bangladeshi military officer who commanded the Bangladesh Forces operations in Sector 8 during the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971.[2] He was allegedly involved in the assassination of the then-president of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman.[3] The erstwhile chief of army staff and alleged mastermind of Rahman's assassination, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, had put a standing shoot-to-kill order on Manzur's life—he was killed shortly after being captured at the border. About a year later, Ershad initiated a bloodless coup d'état and took over the central government, holding power until 1990.
Manzur had been awarded the
Early life
Manzur was born on 24 February 1940 into a
He was a student inAfter the Liberation War started, Major Manzur was a
In 1974–76, he was posted in New Delhi as military attaché in the High Commission of Bangladesh to India. Known for his tenacity, keen eye for strategy, and formation of loyalty from colleagues, in 1975 he was promoted to colonel. Upon his return to Dhaka in 1977, he was promoted to brigadier. In 1980, he was promoted to major general at the age of 41. He was one of the youngest generals of a front-line force in Southeast Asia's history.
Role in assassination of Ziaur Rahman
General
Although the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman was carried out in Chittagong on 30 May 1981, the military coup d'état failed. Major-General Manzoor went on radio to speak to the nation. According to the historian Anthony Mascarenhas in his Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood, Manzoor effectively isolated Chittagong from the rest of the country. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad, quickly ordered to suppress any such action and issued orders to kill or capture Manzoor.[7] Manzoor surrendered without incident to the police in Fatikchari.[10] Manzoor was reported to have been killed on spot by angry soldiers on 2 June 1981.[5] Other reports say he was killed in Chittagong Cantonment by an army officer sent from Dhaka.[10] In less than a year, Lt-General Hussain Muhammad Ershad took over the country in a bloodless coup.
Trial
On 28 February 1995, Abul Mansur the elder brother of General Manzoor filed a murder case with Panchlaish Police Station 14 years after his killing.[2] Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad was made the prime accused in the case. Other accused are Maj (retired) Kazi Emdadul Haque, Lt Col (retired) Mostafa Kamaluddin Bhuiyan, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Shams, and Major General (retired) Abdul Latif.[9][11]
Family and legacy
He left behind his wife Rana Yasmeen Manzur, two daughters, and two sons. [12][13] They received political asylum in the US. He was considered a war hero as Sector 8 commander in the Liberation War.[14]
Notes
- ^ Sources vary with regard to exactly where he was born. Franda says his birthplace was Krishnanagar in what is now West Bengal, India.[4] Banglapedia places his birth at Gopinathpur village of Comilla District, now in Kasba Upazila of Brahmanbaria District, Bangladesh.[5]
References
- ^ Bangladesh Gazette of 15 December, 1973; Ministry of Liberation War Affairs
- ^ a b "CID gets 2 more months for Manzur's murder investigation". The Daily Star. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Bangladesh President Killed by Leftist Rebels". cdm16795.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ JSTOR 4370140.
- ^ a b c d e Khan, Muazzam Hussain (2012). "Manzoor, Major General Muhammad Abul". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
- ISBN 0-905762-07-X.
[Abu Taher recounting their escape from West Pakistan to join the Bangladesh Liberation War:] Since we had to pass some daylight hours, we went to Major Manzur house who was stationed at Sialkot Cantonment. When Manzur came to know of our plan of escape, he remained quiet and expressed no enthusiasm. At the insistence of his wife, he at last agreed to escape with us. In this way Major Manzur, his family, and his Bengali batman joined us. At nightfall we drove up to the border, ... walked across the boundary and reached India.
- ^ a b "1981: Bangladeshi president assassinated". On This Day. BBC. 30 May 1981. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Genesis, Maturation and Distortion of the Bangladeshi Army". Samaj.revues.org. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ a b Islam Tipu, Md Sanaul (30 May 2013). "Prosecution buying time in Manzoor murder case". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ a b Lifschultz, Lawrence (25 February 2014). "The murder of Major General Abul Manzur, Bir Uttam". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ Islam, Md Sanaul (13 March 2015). "CID gets more time to probe Maj Manzoor murder case". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Docket Nos. 03-40052-ag(L), 03-40054-ag(con), 03-40056-ag(con), 03-40058-ag(con). – MANZUR v. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY – US 2nd Circuit". Caselaw.findlaw.com. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ "Manzur v. DHS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2011.
- ^ "Sector Commanders Forum". Sector Commanders Forum. 14 April 2008. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
Further reading
- Ali, Tariq. Pakistan: Military Rule or People's Power?, London: Cape, 1970.