Rafiqul Islam (officer)

For other people with the same name, see Rafiqul Islam.

Rafiqul Islam Bir Uttom
রফিকুল ইসলাম
Islam in 2019
Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Chandpur-5
In office 25 January 2009 – 6 August 2024
Preceded by	M. A. Matin
In office 14 July 1996 – 13 July 2001
Preceded by	M. A. Matin
Personal details
Born	(1943-09-13) 13 September 1943 (age 81) Chandpur, Bengal Presidency, British India
Political party	Bangladesh Awami League
Awards	Bir Uttom[1]
Military service
Allegiance	Bangladesh  Pakistan (Before 1971)
Branch/service	Bangladesh Army  Pakistan Army
Years of service	1965-1972
Rank	Major
Unit	Corps of Engineers Regiment of Artillery[2]
Commands	Commander of Sector – I
Battles/wars	Bangladesh Liberation War

Rafiqul Islam (born 13 September 1943) is a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Chandpur-5 constituency.

Early life and Education

Rafiqul Islam was born on 13 September 1943, in Naora village, located in Shahrasti municipality of Chandpur district. He passed his SSC from Annada High School in 1959 and his HSC from Victoria College, Comilla. He was admitted in the Dhaka University in Economics but later dropped out as he joined the Army in 1963.

Pakistan Army

Major Rafiq joined the Army in 1963. He was commissioned in 1965 in Corps of Engineers. Later he was transferred to Regiment of Artillery. In 1968 he was deputed to East Pakistan Rifles and was appointed the Assistant Wing Commander of 8th Wing of EPR. In 1970 he was transferred to Chittagong EPR sector HQ as its Adjutant.

Liberation War of Bangladesh

He was Sector Commander of Number 1 Sector of Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Number 1 sector included all areas east of the Muhuri river in Feni district, Khagrachari district, Rangamati district, Bandarban district, Chittagong district and Cox’s Bazar district, extending up to the western border of Myanmar.

Later Career

He served for over 14 years as the Chairman of the following government organizations: Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority, Bangladesh Handloom Board, and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation. Afterwards, he was nominated and included in the 1st Caretaker Government of Bangladesh as Advisor during 1990-1991, and was given the responsibility of the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

Political Career

He joined the Bangladesh Awami League and ran for political office. He was elected a member of Bangladesh Parliament in July, 1996 from 264-Chandpur-5 (Hajigonj-Shahrasti Upazillas).[3]

He was re-elected to the parliament in 2008, 2014 and 2018 from Chandpur-5 constituency as a Bangladesh Awami League candidate.[4]

References

1. Bangladesh Gazette of 15 December 1973; Ministry of Liberation War Affairs
2. ইশতিয়াক, আহমাদ (24 January 2022). "খেতাবপ্রাপ্ত বীর মুক্তিযোদ্ধা: মোহাম্মদ রফিকুল ইসলাম,বীর উত্তম". The Daily Star Bangla (in Bengali).
3. "Major Rafiqul Islam (Retd.) Bir Uttam". Amarmp. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
4. "Major Rafiqul Islam (Retd.) Bir Uttam". Amarmp. Retrieved 15 November 2018.