Shafaat Jamil

Colonel Shafaat Jamil (Bengali: শাফাত জামিল), Bir Bikram (born 1940) is a former Bangladesh Army officer.

Early life

He was born on March 1, 1940. His father A.H. Karimullah was an East Pakistan Civil Service (Judicial) Officer. Jamil was educated at Dhaka College, University of Dhaka and Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul.

In 1964, he was commissioned as Second Leiutenent in the Pakistan Army's East Bengal Regiment. He was a coursemate of General Pervez Musharraf, the former President of Pakistan.

Role in Bangladesh Liberation War

In March, 1971 Jamil was promoted to the rank of Major in the Pakistan Army. On 27 March 1971 he mutinied against the Pakistan Army with Bengali officers and soldiers of 4th East Bengal Regiment (nicknamed Baby Tigers) after hearing the news of Pakistan Army's genocide in East Pakistan/Bangladesh. As a Bangladesh Force (BDF) officer he fought against the Pakistani Force in Sector-11 until October 10 and was abruptly ordered to fight in the Sylhet sector in Bangladesh.

In June he was appointed Commanding Officer of 3rd East Bengal Regiment in Sector 11 under Sector Commander Major Ziaur Rahman, later Commander of Z Force Brigade. 3rd East Bengal Regiment participated in small and large guerilla operations. Zia also entrusted Jamil with the holding of the Teldhala area free and secure. . Under Zia's directive Major Jamil assisted by Lieutenants' Nurun Nabi and Anwar set up the first functioning Administrative Area there. . On August 27 he was present with Zia at the inaugural opening of the first post office and two sub-post offices in the vicinity. On 11 October 1971 Major Shafaat Jamil's 3rd East Bengal Regiment participated in the battles of Chattak, Sylhet, Bangladesh. However the Chattak Operation failed though the 3rd East Bengal Regiment killed 364 Pakistani soldiers. Major Shafaat Jamil led his battalion in the Radhanagar Operation. Jamil's battalion captured the Pakistani position where the Indian Army's Gurkha Regiment failed. Later Jamil received medical treatmtent for battle injuries at Shilong Military Hospital, Shilong, India.

Bangladesh Army

After the Independence War of Bangladesh, Jamil was promoted to Lt. Col. and was awarded Bir Bikram (the third highest gallantry award of Bangladesh).In 1974 he was promoted to Colonel and appointed Brigade Commander of 46 Infantry Brigade of Bangladesh Army at Dhaka cantonment. He helped Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf to initiate an armed uprising on November 3, 1975 and proceeded toward Banga Bhaban against the regime of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad. On 7 November his attempts failed and Khaled Musharraf was assassinated while Colonel Jamil was arrested. Change came on 6 November with the exit of Moshtaque from the presidency and his replacement by Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem. He was retired from the Bangladesh Army. Later he became a businessman. He lives in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

References

• Source: "The War of Life: The Life of War" by Lt. Col. Nurun Nabi Khan
• Jamil, Shafaat, " '71 Independence War - Bloody Mid-August and November Conspiracy"
• Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference 1971