Abul Manzoor
| Muhammad Abul Manzur | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Manzoor |
| Born |  Comilla, Bengal, British India |
| Died | 2 June 1981 Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan Bangladesh Forces Bangladesh |
| Service/branch | Pakistan Army Bangladesh Army |
| Years of service | 1952–1981 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Infantry Para Commando |
| Commands held | Sector – VIII Chief of General Staff 24th Division, Chittagong Cantonment |
| Battles/wars | Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971 |
| Awards | Bir Uttom |
| Relations | Rana Yasmeen Manzur (Spouse) Children:- Zoheb Manzur Shafqat Muhammed Manzur Rubana Manzur Karishma Manzur |
Major General Muhammad Abul Manzur (1940–1981) was a career Bangladeshi army officer who was a war hero being a freedom fighter and Sector Commander of BDF Sector 8 during the Bangladesh Liberation War from Pakistan. He was awarded valor under fire Bir Uttam by the Bangladeshi Government for his bravery in the liberation war. Manzur was appointed as the youngest divisional commander of Bangladesh Army, GOC of Chittagong Cantonment – 24th Infantry Division.
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[edit] Early life
General MA Manzur was born at village Gopinathpur under Kasba thana of Comilla district in 1940. His paternal home is at village Kamalpur in Chatkhil thana of Noakhali district. He passed senior Cambridge in 1955 and ISC examination in 1956 from the Sargoda Public School in Punjab. He joined the East Bengal Regiment as a commissioned officer of the then East Pakistan. He attended Staff College in Canada in 1958 where he obtained his PSC. After the war started, at that time Major Manzur was a Brigade Major of a Para Commando Brigade close to the Indian Border. He fled Pakistan on a daring escape with his family and few fellow officers across the border to India. From there, they made their way to Bangladesh and Manzur joined up with fellow officers from East Bengal. He quickly became a prominent officer within the ranks and won many battles in his sector. He commanded Sector – VIII during the Liberation War from September 1971 to victory on December 1971. Known for his tenacity, keen eye for strategy and deep loyalty from his fellow officers and senior NCOs, in 1975 he was promoted to Colonel. In 1974-76, he was posted in New Delhi as Military Attache in the Bangladesh Embassy to India. 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 and became one of the youngest generals of a front line force in south-east Asia's history.
[edit] Role in assassination of Ziaur Rahman
What acted as a catalyst of the assassination of Zia was the decision of the then Chief of Army Staff General Hussain Muhammad Ershad to transfer General Manzoor to a non-combatant post in Dhaka as Commandant of the Defenece Services Command and Staff College.[1] Manzoor was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Chittagong, where most of the freedom fighters were placed under him benefitting from the highest posts.[2] Once the transer order was sent to Manzoor,[2] the coup was launched.
[edit] Capture and death
Although the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman was carried out in Chittagong on 30 May 1981 the Military Coup de Eta failed. General Manzur wanted to speak to the nation on his side of the facts. The then Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad[1] quickly ordered to suppress any such action and issued orders to kill as soon as capture. Manzoor attempted to escape, but was ultimately captured and killed on 2 June 1981.[3] Ironically General Hussain Muhammad Ershad himself took over the country in less than a year's time, in the first and actual military coup de tat.
[edit] Trial
No trial has yet been undertaken for his murder.
[edit] Family and legacy
He left behind his wife and four children[4][5] who have all received political asylum in the U.S. A war hero and a sector commander[6] of the Liberation War of Sector 8. No trial has yet been undertaken for his murder.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "BBC Online". BBC News. 30 May 1981. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/30/newsid_4401000/4401129.stm. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Genesis, Maturation and Distortion of the Bangladeshi Army". Samaj.revues.org. http://samaj.revues.org/document230.html. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ Banglapedia
- ^ "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. http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1432898.html. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
- ^ http://www.bibdaily.com/pdfs/Manzur%202%207-16-07.pdf
- ^ "Sector Commanders Forum". Sector Commanders Forum. 14 April 2008. http://www.sectorcommandersforum.org. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
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[edit] See also
- Mascarenhas, Anthony. Bangladesh: A Legacy of Blood. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1986.
- Lifschultz, Lawrence. Bangladesh: The Unfinished Revolution. London: Zed Books, 1979.
- Ali, Tariq. Pakistan: military rule or people's power?". London: Cape, 1970.
- Court Documents for Family U.S. Asylum http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1432898.html
- Expanded Court Document for Family U.S. Asylum listing the names of all four children http://www.bibdaily.com/pdfs/Manzur%202%207-16-07.pdf
