Nickname(s) Manzoor Name Abul Manzoor | Awards Bir Uttom Unit Infantry
Para Commando Rank Major general | |
Allegiance Pakistan
Bangladesh Forces
Bangladesh Commands held Sector – VIII
Chief of General Staff
24th Division, Chittagong Cantonment Battles/wars Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971 Died June 2, 1981, Chittagong, Bangladesh Service/branch Pakistan Army, Bangladesh Army | ||
Battles and wars Bangladesh Liberation War | ||
Mohammad Abdul Monjur, Bir Uttom (born 1940 - died 2 June, 1981) was a Bangladesh army general who was a war hero as a freedom fighter and Sector Commander of Mukti Bahini Sector 8 during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. His connection to the murder of President Zia through leading the Coupe is not a proved fact. He was killed shortly after while being captured. About a year later, the military took over the government in a bloodless coup, holding power until 1990.
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Monjur had been awarded valor under fire Bir Uttam by the Bangladeshi Government for his bravery in the liberation war. Monjur was appointed as the youngest divisional commander of Bangladesh Army, GOC (General Officer Commanding) of 24th Infantry Division headquartered at Chittagong. His surviving wife and four children were given political asylum in the United States.
Early life
MA Monjur was born at village Gopinathpur under Kasba thana of Comilla district in 1940. His paternal home is at village Kamalpur in Chatkhil thana of Noakhali district. His family moved to East Pakistan after Partition. He passed senior Cambridge in 1955 and ISC examination in 1956 from the Sargoda Public School in Punjab. He was a student of 1st entry (Tempest, Student No 54).
He joined the East Bengal Regiment as a commissioned officer of then East Pakistan. In 1958, he attended Staff College in Canada, where he obtained his PSC. After the Liberation War started, Major Manzoor was a Brigade Major of a Para Commando Brigade close to the Indian border.
He fled Pakistan on a daring escape with his family and a few fellow officers across the border to India. From there, they made their way to Bangladesh, and Manzoor joined up with fellow officers from East Bengal. He quickly became a prominent officer within the ranks and won many battles in his sector. He commanded Sector – VIII during the Liberation War from September 1971 to victory on December 1971.
In 1974-76, he was posted in New Delhi as Military Attache in the Bangladesh Embassy to India. Known for his tenacity, keen eye for strategy, and formation of loyalty from colleagues, in 1975 he was promoted to Colonel.
Upon his return to Dhaka in 1977, he was promoted to Brigadier. In 1980, he was promoted to Major General at the age of 41. He was one of the youngest generals of a front-line force in south-east Asia's history.
Role in assassination of Ziaur Rahman
General Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Chief of Army Staff, transferred General Manzoor to a non-combatant post in Dhaka as Commandant of the Defenece Services Command and Staff College. Lt Gen Ershad was responsible for the killing of Maj Gen Manzoor.
Lt Gen Ershad was hungry for power and in the process killed Maj Gen Manzoor.
Trial
On 28 February 1995, Abul Mansur Ahmed the elder brother of General Manzoor filed a murder case with Panchlaish Police Station 14 years after his killing. Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad was made the prime accused in the case. Other accused are Maj (retired) Kazi Emdadul Haque, Lt Col (retired) Mostafa Kamaluddin Bhuiyan, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Shams, and Major General (retired) Adbul Latif.
Family and legacy
He left behind his wife and four children. They received political asylum in the US. He was considered a war hero as Sector 8 Commander in the Liberation War.