Rafiqul Islam (army officer)
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Md Rafiqul Islam | |
|---|---|
| Native name | মোঃ রফিকুল ইসলাম |
| Allegiance | Bangladesh |
| Branch | Bangladesh Army |
| Rank | Major General |
| Conflicts | Bangladesh Liberation War |
Md Rafiqul Islam (4 February 1956 – 9 March 2009) was a Bangladesh Army major general and veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War who served as General Officer Commanding of the 55th Infantry Division in Jessore Cantonment.[1][2][3]
Islam was born on 4 February 1956 in Banaripara Upazila, Barishal District, East Pakistan, Pakistan.[4] He studied at the Government Banaripara Model Union Institution (Pilot) and the Government Brojomohun College.[4] At the age of 15, he participated in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.[4] He later attended the University of Dhaka and, as a second-year student, joined the Bangladesh Army.[4]
Career
In 1976, Islam was commissioned into the Bangladesh Army from the Bangladesh Military Academy.[4] He served in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment, 15th East Bengal Regiment, 30th East Bengal Regiment, 45th East Bengal Regiment and 46th East Bengal Regiment.[4]
Islam took part in a number of military and national operations, including counterinsurgency missions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Operation Dabanal, Operation Uttaran, Operation Hunting Tiger, Operation Clean Heart, and United Nations peacekeeping duties during the First Ivorian Civil War.[4]
Islam also held several command and staff appointments.[4] He was a company commander of the President Guard Regiment, an additional defence attaché at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, the commander of the 305th Infantry Brigade, and the colonel of staff of the 24th Infantry Division.[4] On 8 March 2007, he was promoted to Major General.[5]
Islam was then appointed the General Officer Commanding of the 55th Infantry Division based in Jessore Cantonment.[4] He led rescue operations following Cyclone Sidr called Operation Ashar Alo.[6] He led efforts to reduce waterlogging in Jessore, supported reforms at Benapole Port, oversaw law-and-order operations in Southwest Bangladesh, and worked on the National Identity Card project.[7] Islam had longstanding ties with Major General Shakil Ahmed and was reportedly affected by the deaths of officers during the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny in February 2009.[4] He sent troops to rescue Army officers trapped at the Bangladesh Rifles Jessore District headquarters.[4]