Khalilur Rahman (general)

Khalilur Rahman was a major general of Bangladesh Army and former director general of Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) and for Chief of Defence staff.

Khalilur Rahman
Member of Parliament for Jamalpur-5
In office 10 July 1986 – 6 December 1987
Preceded by	Syed Abdus Sobhan
Succeeded by	Mohammad Reza Khan
2nd Director General of Bangladesh Rifles
In office 22 February 1974 – 31 October 1975
President	Mohammad Mohammadullah Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
Prime Minister	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Muhammad Mansur Ali
Preceded by	Chitta Ranjan Dutta
Succeeded by	Quazi Golam Dastgir
Personal details
Born	1 January 1927 Jamalpur, Bengal, British India
Died	20 April 2009(2009-04-20) (aged 82) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Alma mater	Presidency College Pakistan Military Academy Staff College, Camberley
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan (Before 1973) Bangladesh
Branch/service	Pakistan Army Bangladesh Army Bangladesh Rifles
Years of service	1950-1976
Rank	Major General
Unit	East Bengal Regiment
Commands	Chief of Defence Staff Director General of Bangladesh Rifles Sector Commander of EPR
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

Early life and education

Khalilur Rahman was born on 1 January 1927 in Nandina, Jamalpur of Bengal Presidency then British India (now in Mymensingh, Bangladesh). He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Presidency College, Calcutta. He later joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1948 and commissioned in East Bengal Regiment in 1950. He was graduated from Staff College, Camberley.

Military career

Pakistan Army

He had started his career by joining the Pakistan Army in 1948. He was commissioned in the Pakistan Army on 26 August 1950 and was posted to the East Bengal Regimental Centre.Later in 1952 he was posted to 1st East Bengal Regiment which was in Jessore Cantonment.At the time of his posting in the 1st East Bengal Regiment Lieutenant Colonel M.A.G. Osmani was the Commanding Officer. He served as the general staff officer second grade at the CENTO Headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on 22 September 1966 and became the CO of 5th East Bengal Regiment. On 16 May 1970, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and posted to I Corps headquarters. Later, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier on 29 May 1971. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he was posted in General Headquarters as a director of Defense Security Force.

Bangladesh Army

He repatriated to Bangladesh in 1973 after its independence in 1971. He was the director general of Bangladesh Rifles from 22 February 1974 to 31 October 1975. On 15 May 1975 he was promoted to the rank of Major General. He was the director general during the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the president of Bangladesh. He pledged allegiance to the new government on Bangladesh Radio after the assassination. He became Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), whose position and power was above chiefs of three defence forces after 15 August coup.

Political career

After retirement from Army, Khalilur Rahman joined Bangladesh Awami League. He contested in 1986 Parliamentary Elections as candidate of Awami League from Jamalpur-5. He won the election and was elected to the parliament. In 1991, he contested from the same constituency but lost the election to Sirajul Huq. In 1996, he again participated in the election but this time as a candidate of Gono Forum. He lost the election to Rezaul Karim Hira.

Books

• কাছে থেকে দেখা (১৯৭৩-১৯৭৫)
• পূর্বাপর ১৯৭১ পাকিস্তান সেনা-গহ্বর থেকে দেখা

Death

He died on 20 April 2009