Remembering a war hero
WE said final farewell to Major General Amin Ahmed Chowdhury Bir Bikram, Al Numan. He passed away suddenly on April 19 this year. He was a gallant Freedom Fighter, and a soldier with many virtues.
On March 24, 1971, Pakistan Army Commanders arrived by two helicopters at the East Bengal Regimental Center (EBRC) at Chittagong Cantonment. They ordered the Commandant of EBRC, Brig. Majumder and Capt. Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, Training Adjutant of EBRC, to accompany them to Dhaka by helicopter. The Pakistanis knew that Capt. Amin was an efficient officer who could hamper their plan of genocide in EBRC. From Dhaka Cantonment, he sneaked out to join the Liberation War.
On the August ¾, 1971, in the battle of Nakshi in Jamalpur, he led a company attack on a well-fortified Pakistan position. And at one point, near the enemy trenches, he was hit by splinters. Before his comrades could evacuate him, he was surrounded by enemy troops. A classic rescue operation was launched by his Battalion Commander Major A.J. M. Aminul Huq. He was evacuated first to the Indian Army Hospital and later to Klinikum Hospital in Germany.
On return from Germany, he commanded several East Bengal Regiments, and served in the AHQ. During his tenure he commanded an Infantry Brigade, was Chief Instructor of Infantry School and served as Adjutant General. As Joint Secretary of MoD and MD Muktijoddha Kallyan Trust, he relentlessly worked for the welfare of Freedom Fighters. He had also served as Chairman of Tea Board.
As Bangladesh Ambassador to Oman, he devotedly worked to improve the condition of Bangladeshi workers and their families and set up four schools for Bangladeshi children, He was awarded the highest civilian honour of Oman 'Al Numan' for his welfare activities and improving relationship between the two countries.
Late Major General Amin was a person with super blend of scholarship and creativity. He had a sobering and inspiring effect on the society. He was an imaginative, meticulous and eloquent speaker with sound insight on political, economic and social issues. He lived a life in action and left very suddenly.
The writer is a Retd. Lt. Colonel.
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