Golam Helal Morshed Khan

Golam Helal Morshed Khan
Born (1948-11-27) 27 November 1948
Sirajganj District, East Bengal, Pakistan
Allegiance Bangladesh
 Pakistan (Before 1971)
Branch Bangladesh Army
 Pakistan Army
Service years1969–1997
RankMajor general
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Commands
Conflicts
AwardsBir Bikrom
Other workChairman of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad

Golam Helal Morshed Khan is a retired major general of the Bangladesh Army and a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was awarded Bir Bikrom, the third highest gallantry award, for his actions in the war.[1] He participated in the 1996 Bangladeshi coup d'état attempt.[2][3] On November 27, 2018, he and 150 retired army officers joined the Awami League.[4][5][6]

Early life

Khan was born on 27 November 1948 in Sirajganj District. He joined the Pakistan Army in 1968.[7]

Career

During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Khan was a lieutenant in the Mukti Bahini and served in Kalkalia of Sector 3.[8][9] This sector was commanded by Major K. M. Shafiullah, who was later replaced by Major A. N. M. Nuruzzaman.[8] The neighboring camp was commanded by M Harun-Ar-Rashid, who had borrowed weapons from Khan's camp.[10] Khan fought in the battle to liberate Ashuganj in a joint operation between the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini.[11] He fought in the first and second battles of Belonia.[12]

Khan fought in the Liberation of Mirpur in 1972 as a captain in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment of the Bangladesh Army and commander of Delta Company.[13] After the surrender of the Pakistan Army and the independence of Bangladesh, Mirpur was the last stronghold of pro-Pakistan forces.[13] He commanded the Bangladeshi forces composed of 82 personnel of the Bangladesh Army and 200 personnel of the Bangladesh Police.[13] His commanding officer was Major Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, who sent Second Lieutenant Selim Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, who was killed in action, to support him.[13][14] The battle saw heavy gunfights between his forces and collaborators of the Pakistan Army.[13] After losing 42 army personnel and 82 police personnel, Khan retreated from Mirpur to an Indian Army base.[13] Mirpur was liberated after reinforcements were sent from different cantonments of Bangladesh.[13]

Major General Khan was the GOC of Bogra Cantonment in 1996.[15][16] He criticised the government following the February 1996 Bangladeshi general election, which was boycotted by all parties except the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which won.[17] In response, President Abdur Rahman Biswas sacked him and the deputy chief of the Bangladesh Rifles, Brigadier General Hameedur Rehman.[15] Army chief Lieutenant General Abu Saleh Mohammed Nasim revolted and launched the failed 1996 Bangladeshi coup d'état attempt with the support of troops from Bogra Cantonment.[15] In the June 1996 Bangladeshi general election, the Awami League was elected to power.[17]

Khan is the chairman of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad.[18]

On November 27, 2018, he and 150 retired army officers joined the Awami League.[4][5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Helal for Liberation War spirit in new generations". The Asian Age. Bangladesh. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh's Army Chief Fired". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  3. ^ "Bangladesh ex-army chief arrested". United Press International. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  4. ^ a b "150 ex-army officers vow support for AL". Daily Sun. 27 November 2018. Archived from the original on 2 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Over 150 retired military officers endorse Awami League". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 2025-11-02. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  6. ^ a b "Over 150 ex-military officers to work for AL during polls". The Daily Observer. Archived from the original on 2025-11-02. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  7. ^ https://songramernotebook.com/archives/504395
  8. ^ a b "Star Campus". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  9. ^ "Muktijuddho (Bangladesh Liberation War 1971) - Eleven (11) Sectors - History of Bangladesh". londoni.co. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  10. ^ Harun-ar-rashid, M. (2018-03-26). "Operation Kalachara Tea Garden". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  11. ^ "Ashuganj got freedom in Liberation War today". The Asian Age. Bangladesh. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  12. ^ Mustafa, FF Ghulam (2017-12-16). "BATTLES OF BELONIA BULGE". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Mirpur: The tale of the last battle". The Business Standard. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  14. ^ Alamgir, Mohiuddin (2021-01-31). "The last battlefield". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  15. ^ a b c "Bangladeshi President Fires Army Chief". Los Angeles Times. 1996-05-21. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  16. ^ Alagappa, Muthiah (2001). Coercion and Governance: The Declining Political Role of the Military in Asia. Stanford University Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-8047-4227-6.
  17. ^ a b "Shaikh Hasina Takes Over From Khalida Zia in Successful Bangladesh Election". WRMEA. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  18. ^ "'We Answered the Call'". The Daily Star. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
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