M. I. Karim
Iskander Al-Karim | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Bacchu |
| Died | 4 February, 2018 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Armoured Corps |
| Commands | GOC of 6th Armoured Division |
| Conflicts | |
| Alma mater | Indian Military Academy |
M. Iskander Al-Karim, awc, psc, natively known as Bacchu Karim, was a Bengali Major General. He most notably was the commander of the Pakistan Army's 6th Armoured Division in Gujranwala.[1]
Military career
Karim graduated from the Indian Military Academy and he eventually reached the rank of Major General in the Pakistan Army.[2]
Bangladesh Liberation War
Prior to Operation Searchlight, then-Brigadier Karim was the officer-in-charge of civil affairs at the HQ, CMLA.[3]
Later on, in 1971, he was promoted to Major General and made GOC of the 6th Armoured Division in Gujranwala.[1] During the war, he was kept under the close surveillance, with Major General Bashir Ahmad openly telling his staff officers that he was to keep an eye on Bacchu Karim.[4]
Military Officer's Revolt
After the defeat of Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War, his juniors officers revolted against Yahya Khan. They made him send a following flash message to Chief of General Staff Lt. General Gul Hassan Khan, which stated their demand for the army top brass to be changed.[1] During the revolt, he was confined to a caravan and forcibly relieved of his command.[1][4] Afterwards, Brigadier F.B. Ali took control of the division and successfully got Yahya Khan to resign.[4]
Repatriation and retirement
After Bangladesh became independent, he was repatrated to Bangladesh in 1973.[2] He was forcibly retired upon repatriation because of his continued involvement with the Pakistan Army's higher command, up until the military officer's revolt.[5][6] After retirement, he founded the Vantage Group of Companies.[2][7]
Death
In 2018, he died at the age of 94.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Ṣiddīqī, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān (2004). East Pakistan, the endgame: an onlooker's journal, 1969-1971. Karachi: Oxford university press. ISBN 978-0-19-579993-4.
- ^ a b c d "Maj Gen (retd) MI Karim passes away". The Daily Star. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ "DAWN - Features; March 24, 2002". DAWN.COM. 2002-03-24. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ a b c Hussain, Hamid (2021-03-10). "Brigadier Farrukh Bakht Ali". Defence Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ Liton, Shakhawat (2015-08-14). "Fatal deaf ear". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ Chowdhury, Mainul Hossain (2012). Silent Witness of a General. ISBN 9789842002694.
- ^ "Vantage". vantage-gp.com. Retrieved 2025-08-22.