Gulzar Uddin Ahmed

Gulzar Uddin Ahmed
Native name
গুলজার উদ্দিন আহমেদ
Died(2009-02-25)25 February 2009
Pilkhana, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Cause of death
Assassination
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch
 Bangladesh Army
Bangladesh Rifles
Service years
1983-2009
Rank
Colonel
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Commands
Conflicts
Bangladesh Rifles revolt †
Education
Military Training
Bangladesh Military Academy
SpouseFatema Sultana (m. 1994)[1]
Children2
Police career
UnitRapid Action Battalion
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Police
Service years2004–2009
RankDirector
AwardsBPM (bar)

Gulzar Uddin Ahmed (Bengali: গুলজার উদ্দিন আহমেদ), also known as Colonel Gulzar, was an officer of Bangladesh Army and former additional director of the intelligence wing of the Rapid Action Battalion.[2][3]

Career

On 26 March 2004, Ahmed was deputed to Rapid Action Battalion.[4] Mominullah David, Jubodal leader and accused in 31 criminal cases, was killed in a shootout with RAB officers under Ahmed's command in Malibagh in November 2004.[5][6]

In 2005, the first intelligence wing of the Rapid Action Battalion was formed, and Ahmed was designated chief of the intelligence wing of the Rapid Action Battalion.[2] He and Abdul Aziz Sarkar went to the Taskforce for Interrogation Cell to interrogate Mufti Hannan over the 21 August 2004 Dhaka grenade attack in the presence of Criminal Investigation Department officer Munshi Atiqur Rahman.[7]

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 the arrest of hundreds of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen members, a Bangladeshi terrorist group, and 6 top leaders, including Shaykh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai.[3] He led the operation to arrest Shaykh Abdur Rahman in Sylhet on 2 March 2006.[8] He led the operation to arrest Bangla Bhai in Mymensingh on 2 March 2006.[9] He led the raid that killed Shakil, alias Mollah Omar, bomb expert of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, in Comilla on 14 March 2006.[10] His team also captured a large stock of explosives, nitric acid, and grenades belonging to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen in November 2008.[2] His work against terrorism made him a "National Hero".[3]

In 2006, Ahmed was promoted to colonel and was transferred to the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), currently known as the Border Guards Bangladesh. Later, he was transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion as additional director general.[2][11] He reported the arrest of AKM Fazlul Haque Milon, former member of parliament from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, by RAB on corruption charges on 5 September 2007.[12] He oversaw training of the RAB in human rights from the British High Commission to Bangladesh.[13]

In January 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appointed him as the Sylhet sector commander of the Bangladesh Rifles.[2][14][15] Rezanur Rahman Khan replaced him as additional director general of the Rapid Action Battalion.[4]

Death

Ahmed was assassinated in the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny while attending the annual gathering of all sector commanders of the Bangladesh Rifles on 26 February 2009.[16][1] He had called for help but did not get any response during the mutiny.[17] Besides Gulzar Ahmed, all other commanders who were present at the gathering were also assassinated.[2][18] His body was found ten days after the mutiny with visible signs of torture.[3] It had to be identified using a DNA test.[19] He was buried in the Banani Army Graveyard.[19] It was speculated that he was killed in revenge by terrorists.[3][4][20]

Personal life

Ahmed married Fatema Sultana.[21] They had two daughters.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Islam, Shariful (2010-02-25). "A vacation never came true". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh by Syedur Rahman, Fourth Edition, Scarecrow Press, United Kingdom, 2010, p. 11
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Montero, David (2010-07-22). "Mutiny in Bangladesh: unsolved mystery threatens regional stability". The Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  4. 1 2 3 "Terror struck back at its buster". The Daily Star. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  5. ↑ "Top N'ganj criminal, Jubo Dal leader David dies in Rab action". The Daily Star. 25 November 2004. Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  6. ↑ "PBCP founder Mofakkhar killed in Rab action". The Daily Star. 18 December 2004. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  7. ↑ Ch, Julfikar Ali Manik with Chaitanya; Halder, ra (2012-08-18). "A test for investigators". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  8. ↑ Manik, Julfikar Ali (2 March 2006). "Secret lies with Rahman". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  9. ↑ Manik, Julfikar Ali; Ashraf, Shamim (7 March 2006). "Tyrant Bangla Bhai finally captured". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  10. ↑ Manik, Julfikar Ali; Ashraf, Shamim (14 March 2006). "Rab kills JMB bomber; his wife, 2 kids blown off". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  11. ↑ "Voicebox". Star Weekend. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  12. ↑ "Ex-MP Fazlul Haque Milon arrested". The Daily Star. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  13. ↑ "Duncan Brown, SCO, British High Commission, giving away certificate to a participant of the training on Thursday". The Daily Star. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  14. ↑ "Mutiny, bloodshed at BDR HQ". The Daily Star. 2009-02-25. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  15. ↑ "Col Gulzar, another officer identified". bdnews24.com. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  16. ↑ Manik, Julfikar Ali (2009-03-01). "72 officers still remain missing". 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. 25 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  19. 1 2 "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. 25 February 2010. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
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