Mohammad Abdur Rab (Bir Uttam) Explained

Honorific Prefix:Major General
Mohammad Abdur Rab
Honorific Suffix:Bir Uttom
Native Name:মোহাম্মদ আবদুর রব
Native Name Lang:bn
Birth Date:21 March 1919
Death Place:CMH, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Allegiance: (before 1947)
Pakistan (before 1971)
Bangladesh
Branch:

Serviceyears:1942-1972
Rank: Major General
Unit:Army Services Corps
Commands:
Awards: Bir Uttom
Independence Day Award

Mohammad Abdur Rab, Bir Uttom (Bengali: মোহাম্মদ আব্দুর রব; 1919–1975) also known as M A Rab, was the first Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 10 April 1971 till 6 April 1972.

Early life

Abdur-Rab was born at village of Khagaura under Baniachong of Habiganj in 1919. A lifelong bachelor, he was elected as lawmaker from the Jatiya Sangsad constituency comprising Baniachang and Ajmiriganj thanas.[1]

Death

Abdur-Rab died 14 November 1975[2] at the Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka at age 56. He had been suffering from ailments including anemia. He was laid to rest at his village of khagaura on the banks of Khowai River in Habiganj.

His younger brother Abdur Rahim said that no pension was paid to any of his family members. Abdur Rab's grave is at the district headquarters of Habiganj. Other than some local freedom fighters, nobody was seen to go visit the site, even on the country's national days.[3]

After independence of Bangladesh

Abdur Rab retired from Bangladesh Army soon after Independence due to poor health, similar to M. A. G Osmani. Rumors were spread that Rab was awarded the gallantry medal which his deputy chief of staff (Army) A. K. Khandker conveniently took. Rab was awarded the Independence Day Award posthumously in 2000.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hossain, Abu Md. Delwar . 2012 . Rob, Major General MA . http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Rob,_Major_General_MA . Islam . Sirajul . Sirajul Islam . Jamal . Ahmed A. . Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh . Second . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. News: MA Rab . News Today . 29 June 2015.
  3. News: Behind the Scene . Star Insight . The Daily Star . November 2008 . 19 July 2012.
  4. Web site: List of Independence Awardees. Cabinet Division. bn. মরহুম মেজর জেনারেল মোহাম্মদ আবদুর রব (বীর উত্তম) – স্বাধীনতা ও মুক্তিযুদ্ধ [Late Major General Mohammad Abdur Rab (retd) – Liberation War]. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706132334/http://www.cabinet.gov.bd/view_award.php?year_select=2000&Submit=GO&lang=en. 6 July 2011.