Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury
Encyclopedia
Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury is a retired Bangladesh
i army officer and Lieutenant General
of the Bangladesh Army
. He became the Chief of Army staff
in 2002 and after retirement from the Army, became an adviser of the interim caretaker government
in October 2006. He resigned along with three other advisers Sultana Kamal
, C M Shafi Sami and Akbar Ali Khan
, after a series of disagreements which included army deployment in the country with the Chief adviser and President Iajuddin Ahmed
.
. His student life started in a patshala in Kanishail village of Sylhet. As his father had a transferring job, he had to come with his father in Barisal. He studied at Barisal Zilla School
for five years. He came to Dhaka
after passing SSC
in 1964 and was admitted in prominent Notre Dame College
. In 1966 he became a student of the Economics Department of the University of Dhaka
. One year later he suddenly decided to join the army.
After getting into the army he went to the Pakistan Military Academy
at Kakul in West Pakistan
. Two years later he was commissioned into Frontier Force Regiment
which was mainly formed with Pathan soldiers. He worked in Karachi
, Lahore
, Azad Kashmir
and Sindh
. He went to Quetta
a few times for training.
Then came the Bangladesh Liberation War
. At that time he was interred as an enemy officer. He remembered, "I was interred in a remote place surrounded by mountains. We were treated as prisoners of war. It was clear to me that we would be used to exchange for Pakistani prisoners of war in India". He was captive in Pakistan from 1972 to 1974 and described the period as "miserable and wastage of time and working ability".
. In 1975 he became a brigade major of the 46 Infantry Brigade Head Quarters at Dhaka. Later he returned to 17th East Bengal Regiment
as a captain and in 1977 went to Ruma of Chittagong Hill Tracts
. He got married in 1977.
He came to Dhaka later that year to join 9 Infantry Division and received training at Defence Services Command and Staff College
, Mirpur, and worked for two years as an instructor and went to Alikadam of Chittagong Hill Tracts
. From there he went to Bangladesh Military Academy
at Bhatiari and later returned to Dhaka. After some time he was promoted into brigade commander at Savar
.
At the Gulf War
in 1990, he was commander of the Bangladesh Military contingent that took part at the war. He spent nine months stationed in different places across Saudi Arabia
. He described his experience as tough but professionally pleasing.
After coming back home from the war, Chowdhury received training at Army War College in United States
. With that he got a chance to fulfill his long waited dream when he finished his masters in public administration at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
. As part of the training he toured Argentina
, Brazil
, Ecuador
and Mexico
.
Coming back home from foreign land, he was appointed as a Brigade Commander at Khagrachhari, Chittagong Hill Tracts
. After that he was posted at Defence Services Command and Staff College at Mirpur. One year later he was sent to Bogra
as General Officer Commanding
of the 11 Infantry Division after a turmoil inside the army in 1996. After one year he was appointed as Chief of General Staff and then as Commandant
of the National Defense College. Then he had a chance to work as a High Commissioner
of Bangladesh
in the United Arab Emirates
. There he got a rewarding chance to help the local Bangladeshi immigrants. In June 2002 he received an urgent call from Bangladesh and learned that he was appointed Chief of Staff
of the Bangladesh Army
, a feat which is the highest for an army officer. After three years he was asked to extend his term, but he refused. He stated that "... three years was sufficient to prove the credibility of an army chief. Secondly those who are new were ready and interested for this responsibility."
Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury is the last Chief of Staff
of Bangladesh Army
who was commissioned before the Bangladesh Liberation War
in the Pakistan Army
.
On 22 February 2007 Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury became the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh. He resigned on 2 April 2009 for personal reasons.
As an adviser of the caretaker government his view was to leave an example to help the democratic process like previous caretaker governments. But as he started to work along with the other advisers he felt the lack of leadership and unwillingness to take the right decision at the right time. When the package proposal of the advisers was accepted by the opposite political parties, he was surprised to see the ignorance of the chief adviser and the President Iajuddin Ahmed
about it.
Even before the package proposal started, Chowdhury made a direct meeting with the opposite political parties and thought the negotiation to overcome the problem may not be possible. So he gave a proposal of reassignment of the advisers to make the politicians responsible for jeopardizing the condition.
Then came another twisting moment, when chief adviser Iajuddin Ahmed single-handedly deployed the army. Even he was once the chief of staff of the army Chowdhury directly said to him, "people of Bangladesh can not be controlled by the army. It was not possible in 1971, not in 1990 and there is no legitimate way to succeed in 2006". After that meeting he decided to resign if the army is being used. And next day when he came to know about the deployment he immediately resigned along with three others advisers Akbar Ali Khan
, CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal
. Answering to a question about why he was so anxious about the deployment he said, Other regular agencies of the government are proved to be sufficient to maintain law and order. If the election holds, the army could be used for special purposes. But their activities would be in debate if they are used so early. Chowdhury also disagreed to take all the responsibilities for the political crisis and blamed the opposite alliances for the cause. He also thought of expressing his thinking about the situation later by writing a book.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i army officer and Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
of the Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
. He became the Chief of Army staff
Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army
The Chief of the Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army is the professional head of the Bangladesh Army. By virtue of the eminence of the Bangladesh Army amongst the military forces of Bangladesh, he is also regarded as the senior-most defence official in the country...
in 2002 and after retirement from the Army, became an adviser of the interim caretaker government
Caretaker government of Bangladesh
The Caretaker Government of Bangladesh is a form of government system in which the country is ruled by a selected government for an interim period during transition from one government to another, after the completion tenure of the former. As the outgoing government hands over their power, the...
in October 2006. He resigned along with three other advisers Sultana Kamal
Sultana Kamal
Sultana Kamal is a Bangladeshi human rights worker and politician. She was an adviser to the interim Caretaker government of Bangladesh under chief adviser and president Iajuddin Ahmed. She along with three other advisers resigned after a series of disagreements which included army deployment in...
, C M Shafi Sami and Akbar Ali Khan
Akbar Ali Khan
Akbar Ali Khan is a Bangladeshi economist and educationist who served as a bureaucrat until 2001. He was the SDO of Habiganj during the Bangladesh Liberation War, when he decided to join the war. Later he served as an official of the Mujibnagar Government...
, after a series of disagreements which included army deployment in the country with the Chief adviser and President Iajuddin Ahmed
Iajuddin Ahmed
-Early life:Ahmed was born in Bikrampur of Dhaka District, erstwhile Bengal province, British India . As the son of Moulvi Ibrahim Mia, Ahmed obtained his B.Sc. and M.S. at the University of Dhaka in 1952 and 1954 respectively and later received his M.S. and Ph.D...
.
Early life
Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury spent his childhood in SylhetSylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
. His student life started in a patshala in Kanishail village of Sylhet. As his father had a transferring job, he had to come with his father in Barisal. He studied at Barisal Zilla School
Barisal Zilla School
Barisal Zilla School is a boys school located in Barisal, Bangladesh. One of the oldest schools in Bangladesh, it has more than two thousand students. Beside the school playground, Barisal Zilla School owns famous ground called Poreshagor. The school celebrated its 175th anniversary on 9-10...
for five years. He came to Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
after passing SSC
Secondary School Certificate
The Secondary School Certificate, also known as SSC, is a public examination taken by students in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in the states of Tamilnadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa in India after successfully completing at least ten years of schooling. It is followed...
in 1964 and was admitted in prominent Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College, also known as Notre Dame College of Ohio or simply NDC, is a Catholic, coeducational, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio, USA. Established in 1922 as a women's college it has been coeducational since January 2001...
. In 1966 he became a student of the Economics Department of the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
. One year later he suddenly decided to join the army.
After getting into the army he went to the Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
at Kakul in West Pakistan
West Pakistan
West Pakistan , common name West-Pakistan , in the period between its establishment on 22 November 1955 to disintegration on December 16, 1971. This period, during which, Pakistan was divided, ended when East-Pakistan was disintegrated and succeeded to become which is now what is known as Bangladesh...
. Two years later he was commissioned into Frontier Force Regiment
Frontier Force Regiment
For Pakistan's Border Guard see: Frontier CorpsThe Frontier Force Regiment is one of six Infantry regiments in the Pakistan Army. At present, the regiment consists of 67 battalions and has its regimental depot at Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. For that reason Abbottabad is also known as Home of...
which was mainly formed with Pathan soldiers. He worked in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
and Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. He went to Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
a few times for training.
Then came the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
. At that time he was interred as an enemy officer. He remembered, "I was interred in a remote place surrounded by mountains. We were treated as prisoners of war. It was clear to me that we would be used to exchange for Pakistani prisoners of war in India". He was captive in Pakistan from 1972 to 1974 and described the period as "miserable and wastage of time and working ability".
Professional career
He returned to Independent Bangladesh in January 1974 and joined the Bangladesh Army. Later he joined the 17th East Bengal RegimentEast Bengal Regiment
-History:The East Bengal Regiment was formed in 1948 following Pakistan's creation from the Partition of British Raj in South Asia. As part of the agreement, the Muslim population of what was previously known as British Empire in South Asia were given their own state of Pakistan, made up of West...
. In 1975 he became a brigade major of the 46 Infantry Brigade Head Quarters at Dhaka. Later he returned to 17th East Bengal Regiment
East Bengal Regiment
-History:The East Bengal Regiment was formed in 1948 following Pakistan's creation from the Partition of British Raj in South Asia. As part of the agreement, the Muslim population of what was previously known as British Empire in South Asia were given their own state of Pakistan, made up of West...
as a captain and in 1977 went to Ruma of Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
. He got married in 1977.
He came to Dhaka later that year to join 9 Infantry Division and received training at Defence Services Command and Staff College
Defence Services Command and Staff College
The Defence Services Command and Staff College is situated at Batalanda, Makola 12 Kilometers away from Colombo and its aim to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of experienced officers of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy & the Sri Lanka Air Force to prepare them for the ranks...
, Mirpur, and worked for two years as an instructor and went to Alikadam of Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
. From there he went to Bangladesh Military Academy
Bangladesh Military Academy
Bangladesh Military Academy is the prestigious training institute for the officer cadets of Bangladesh Army. It is located in Bhatiary, near Chittagong HIll Tracts, in the Chittagong District of south-east Bangladesh. The Academy is nestled on the slopes of the Sitakunda hill ranges and also...
at Bhatiari and later returned to Dhaka. After some time he was promoted into brigade commander at Savar
Sävar
Sävar is a locality situated in Umeå Municipality, Västerbotten County, Sweden with 2,672 inhabitants in 2005.It is located by E4 about 15 km north of Umeå, Sweden. Sävar is mostly known for being the last battlefield of the Finnish War....
.
At the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in 1990, he was commander of the Bangladesh Military contingent that took part at the war. He spent nine months stationed in different places across Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. He described his experience as tough but professionally pleasing.
After coming back home from the war, Chowdhury received training at Army War College in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. With that he got a chance to fulfill his long waited dream when he finished his masters in public administration at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, commonly known as Ship, or SU, is a public university located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, 40 miles west-southwest of Harrisburg...
. As part of the training he toured Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Coming back home from foreign land, he was appointed as a Brigade Commander at Khagrachhari, Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
. After that he was posted at Defence Services Command and Staff College at Mirpur. One year later he was sent to Bogra
Bogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
as General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
of the 11 Infantry Division after a turmoil inside the army in 1996. After one year he was appointed as Chief of General Staff and then as Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the National Defense College. Then he had a chance to work as a High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. There he got a rewarding chance to help the local Bangladeshi immigrants. In June 2002 he received an urgent call from Bangladesh and learned that he was appointed Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of the Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
, a feat which is the highest for an army officer. After three years he was asked to extend his term, but he refused. He stated that "... three years was sufficient to prove the credibility of an army chief. Secondly those who are new were ready and interested for this responsibility."
Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury is the last Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Army
The Bangladesh Army is the land forces branch and the largest of the three uniformed service of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Army is to provide necessary forces and capabilities in support of Bangladesh's security and defense strategies including defense of the nation's...
who was commissioned before the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
in the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
.
On 22 February 2007 Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury became the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh. He resigned on 2 April 2009 for personal reasons.
Adviser of the Caretaker Government
At the middle of 2006 he received an unofficial proposal of becoming an adviser of the interim Caretaker Government. At that time he was assured that the government could take up their duties freely and agreed with it. At the start of October, as the confusion about chief justice KM Hasan started he expressed his inability. Though he finally agreed to take the duty after the situation had changed.As an adviser of the caretaker government his view was to leave an example to help the democratic process like previous caretaker governments. But as he started to work along with the other advisers he felt the lack of leadership and unwillingness to take the right decision at the right time. When the package proposal of the advisers was accepted by the opposite political parties, he was surprised to see the ignorance of the chief adviser and the President Iajuddin Ahmed
Iajuddin Ahmed
-Early life:Ahmed was born in Bikrampur of Dhaka District, erstwhile Bengal province, British India . As the son of Moulvi Ibrahim Mia, Ahmed obtained his B.Sc. and M.S. at the University of Dhaka in 1952 and 1954 respectively and later received his M.S. and Ph.D...
about it.
Even before the package proposal started, Chowdhury made a direct meeting with the opposite political parties and thought the negotiation to overcome the problem may not be possible. So he gave a proposal of reassignment of the advisers to make the politicians responsible for jeopardizing the condition.
Then came another twisting moment, when chief adviser Iajuddin Ahmed single-handedly deployed the army. Even he was once the chief of staff of the army Chowdhury directly said to him, "people of Bangladesh can not be controlled by the army. It was not possible in 1971, not in 1990 and there is no legitimate way to succeed in 2006". After that meeting he decided to resign if the army is being used. And next day when he came to know about the deployment he immediately resigned along with three others advisers Akbar Ali Khan
Akbar Ali Khan
Akbar Ali Khan is a Bangladeshi economist and educationist who served as a bureaucrat until 2001. He was the SDO of Habiganj during the Bangladesh Liberation War, when he decided to join the war. Later he served as an official of the Mujibnagar Government...
, CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal
Sultana Kamal
Sultana Kamal is a Bangladeshi human rights worker and politician. She was an adviser to the interim Caretaker government of Bangladesh under chief adviser and president Iajuddin Ahmed. She along with three other advisers resigned after a series of disagreements which included army deployment in...
. Answering to a question about why he was so anxious about the deployment he said, Other regular agencies of the government are proved to be sufficient to maintain law and order. If the election holds, the army could be used for special purposes. But their activities would be in debate if they are used so early. Chowdhury also disagreed to take all the responsibilities for the political crisis and blamed the opposite alliances for the cause. He also thought of expressing his thinking about the situation later by writing a book.