Syed Ali Imam Al Mamun
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Lieutenant Colonel Syed Ali Imam Al Mamun is an ex-Artillery Officer of Bangladesh Army - with a colorful life-sketch and far-reaching sense of honor. At present, the Colonel is leading the Sweater Division of Opex Group and lives in DOHS Baridhara, Dhaka. The current heir to Padamdi Nawab Estate, it is rather a co-incidence that Lt. Col. Mamun is an Artillery Officer - when he holds a family title of Meer - which was awarded to families commanding the Mughal Artillery in South-Asia.
[edit] Early life
Born on 11 September 1950, Syed Ali Imam Al Mamun comes from the renowned jamindaar (landlords) family of the Padamdi Nawab Estate, Rajbari. Geneological lines for Lt. Col. Mamun can be traced back to Hazrat Syed Shah Pahlowan - the founding ruler of Padamdi Nawab Estate. Son of Alhajj Syed Shamsul Huq (a Captain of the Royal Indian Army Supply Corps and later, a civil servant with the East Pakistan Provincial Government), his schooling included Nawabpur Government High School in Dhaka, Notre Dame College (from where, he had been expelled for anti-Field-Marshal Ayub Khan movements along with Shaheed Jewel – a renowned cricket player and martyr of 1971 War of Liberation), and then Jagannath College.
[edit] Dhaka University, Pakistan Army, and 1971
Lieutenant Colonel Syed Ali Imam Al Mamun graduated from Dhaka University with Economics and Mathematics in 1969. He joined the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul the same year and was commissioned as a Second-Lieutenant in the Artillery Corps of the Pakistan Army on 29 March 1970.
Immediately afterwards, he was posted to the elite 35 Heavy Artillery Regiment, stationed along the main defense belt for Lahore under the IV Corps commanded by the “hot-headed” General Bahadur Shah.
Loved by his troops and especially by his Commanding Officer (in spite of his habit of picking-up frequent fist-fights with fellow officers, had they made any adverse comment against the Bengalis), the then Captain Mamun was posted as the Aide-de-Camp to the Corps Commander in December 1970.
Later, Captain Mamun commanded a heavy artillery battery of the 35 Regiment and took part in the defense of Lahore. His battery captured the famous Kaiser-E-Hind from India – the only Pakistani victory in the Indo-Pak War of 1971.
Nevertheless, Captain Mamun refused to acknowledge all military honors bestowed on him by the Pakistan Army and tried to escape the prisons – in which he was put in later.
[edit] Operation Black Panther
Enduring the traumas of the legendary Sagai Fort, Captain Mamun returned to Bangladesh under an agreement mediated by the ICRC between independent Bangladesh and Pakistan in 1973. Immediately, he was put in 7 Field Regiment Artillery in stationed in Jessore – supporting 55 Infantry Division. He led a combined taskforce of Army, paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Police, and the Jatyo Rakshi Bahini (JRB) in two successful operations against the communist extremists and insurgents under Operation Black Panther (OBP) in the Sarankhola Range of the Sunderbans Forests and in Kushtia, in the South-West of Bangladesh. Captain Mamun was also instrumental for the imprisonment of countless local smugglers and arms-lords operating along the Barishal High Way. For his commendable service in Operation Black Panther, Captain Mamun was awarded distinguished bravery medal specially awarded for the operatives of OBP.
Captain Mamun was deputed to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) as the Aide-de-Camp of the Director General-BDR, Major General Gholam Dastgir, and later, Major General Khalilur Rahman (later, Chief of Defence Staff of Bangladesh).
[edit] August 1975
The change of power by a violent military coup in August 1975 led a young Captain Mamun assume a place of prominence amongst the senior officers stationed in Dhaka. As the ADC to DG-BDR, he commanded a loyal contingent of more than 3,000 troops. In a place and time, when all military and civil administrative structures were collapsing under the pressure of power-hungry Majors and Generals (and their supporting troops from a divided Army) Captain Mamun’s troops – personally loyal to their Captain – served as the stabilizing force. Especially during the time of the Soldiers’ Mutiny in 1975, led by valiant freedom fighter – turned communist Colonel Abu Taher and A S M Abdur Rab, Captain Mamun was the only officer who put on the rank-badges of an officer – carrying the rank-badges of Major General Ziaur Rahman (later President of Bangladesh), and other senior officers in the breast-pockets of his olive uniform. Captain Mamun was liked by all – including the rebellious soldiers – who trusted his enthusiasm, selflessness, and integrity. It is still said by his former troops that "bullets used to stop in the sight of Captain Mamun".
He served with General M A G Osmani (the Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini – Freedom Fighters in 1971) later on.
[edit] 21 Rifle Wing, Kalpana Mamun, and 15 Field Regiment Artillery
Captain Mamun was promoted to the rank of Major in 1976 and put in the charge of raising 21 Rifle Wing (later, Battalion) in Jessore. In 1977, on 11 February, Major Mamun got married to Kalpana Mamun – who was to become his companion for the rest of his life and to the endless adventures the two undertook.
Nevertheless, Major Mamun returned to the Army in 1978 and took over command of the Romeo Battery of 15 Field Regiment Artillery – stationed in the abandoned royal palace in Kadirabad, Natore.
[edit] Sylhet Cadet College
Major Mamun was personally instructed by (Shaheed) President General Ziaur Rahman in 1979 to raise the Sylhet Cadet College. And so it was done. Against all and seemingly insurmountable odds – from the ashes of an old Residential Model School. It was after posting to Sylhet Cadet College that the young couple’s first child was born. Sylhet Cadet College later became a premier educational institute in the country. Cadets from the College are serving in high-ranking positions both in the Military and in Civil Administrations, as well as in their high-capacity as excellent professionals in the fields of medicine, engineering, journalism, and other disciplines.
Major Mamun assumed command of 14 Field Regiment Artillery – stationed in Comilla Cantonment in 1981. It was there in Comilla that Major Mamun and Kalpana Mamun’s second child – a beautiful baby girl by the name Zerin was born. And it was also from Comilla that the couple lost her to her maternal grandmother – who never had any faith in the couple’s nomadic life-style and child-rearing capabilities.
Major Mamun took over as the “Deputy Area and Administrative Quarter Master General” (DAA&QMG) of the 72 Infantry Brigade in Rangpur in 1983. Till end-1985, Major Mamun also served as the "Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator" for eight northern districts of Bangladesh.
[edit] 4 Mortar Regiment and Artillery Center
In 1986, a newly promoted Lieutenant Colonel Mamun took over command of 4 Mortar Regiment Artillery stationed in Jessore Cantonment under the 55 Div-Support Artillery. It was during his command that a proper force transformation was started for the unit – which resulted in the unit’s evolution to being a Field Artillery Regiment later in 1989.
Lt. Col. Mamun took over as the Chief Instructor of Artillery Training in the Artillery Center – situated in the port city of Chittagong in February 1987. During his tenure, the largest demobilization for the entire Artillery Corps was taking place. Therefore, Lt. Col. Mamun was charged with the task of brining up an entirely new contingent of Gunners to man the twenty-odd Artillery Regiments – numbering upto 6,000 soldiers – the largest in the history of Bangladesh Artillery Corps.
In 1989, Lt. Col. Mamun was posted to Bogra – with the 11 Infantry Division – as the "Area and Administrative Quarter Master General" (AA&QMG).
[edit] Bangladesh National Cadet Corps
After the fall of President Hussain Muhammad Ershad in a mass revolution for democracy in December 1990, Lt. Col. Mamun was posted to Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) in 1991 as Deputy Director General and Commander – first in Karnaphuli Regiment (stationed in Chittagong University), and then in Ramna Regiment (stationed in Dhaka University). It was a crucial and defining time for both Lt. Col. Mamun and the Military itself, which was trying to forge and formulate a new basis for relationship with the civilian community. Important to note is that Dhaka University was at the forefront of the struggle against military autocracies at all ages in the history of Bangladesh. And it was not till 1979 that a uniformed army officer had been to the University. Lt. Col. Mamun took it as a challenge to forge a strong bond of friendship between the Army and the students and teachers of Dhaka University. He went to his office at the heart of the University near TSC (Teachers’-Students’ Center) in full military uniform everyday – even when fractions from different students’ bodies were fighting amongst themselves with live rounds. Lt. Col. Mamun was admired for his courage, high personal morale and integrity, and the warmth he displayed for all in distress. He worked closely with the Ministry of Education and Dhaka University (especially with Vice-Chancellors Dr. Moniruzzaman Miah [later, Member of the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission), and Dr. Emazuddin Ahmed) from bringing stability and order in the campus and also to train students form a second line of defense in case of emergencies.
[edit] 1 Field Regiment Artillery
Lt. Col. Mamun took over command of “1 Field Regiment Artillery” – stationed in Jahangirabad Cantonment, Bogra – under command of 11 Artillery Brigade orbiting 11 Infantry Division on 11 February 1993. The once-elite unit – established during the Bangladesh War of Independence in September, 1971, as Mujib Battery (after the name of the Father of the Nation – Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) – was on the verge of being disbanded. Lt. Col. Mamun returned unity and a sense of pride to the troops and officers of the Regiment. He sent troops (as individual gunners/observers) to UN missions in Bosnia, Somalia, and other places. Lt. Col. Mamun himself, and his 1 Field Regiment Artillery formed the core of UNMIH-II (UN Mission in Haiti, Phase-II) in the first-ever participation of Artillery Formations in UN Missions from Bangladesh from September 1995. Lt. Col. Mamun worked closely with UN Secretary General’s Special Representative (and ex-foreign minister of Algeria) Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, President Arestid of Haiti, Marines General Sheehan – Commander of the US North-Atlantic Command, General W L Kenzer – the UN Force Commander, and troops and officers from 16 other countries for brining in peace and democracy in Haiti. Lt. Col. Mamun was awarded the UN Medal for his excellent achievement with the Blue Berrets.
[edit] Peace Treaty in Chittagong Hill Tracts
Getting back home, Lt. Col. Mamun was deputed to Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) again and was posted to Paanchari as the Region Commander and Commanding Officer of 32 Rifle Battalion under the Khagracharri Hill District. It was during his time that the first steps for the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Treaty was taken. Later, as the Commander of the Khagracharri Region and Khagracharri Rifles Sector – Lt. Col. Mamun participated actively with the National Committee for Peace and Reconciliation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Peace Treaty was signed and Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) leader – the legendary Jotirindra Bodhyprya Larma a.k.a. Shantu Larma surrendered arms to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in February 1998. Lt. Col. Mamun was charged with the repatriation and rehabilitation of the returning refugees.
Lt. Col. Mamun was posted as Commanding Officer – 19 Rifle Battalion (and for some time as Commander – Dhaka Sector) the same year.
[edit] A New Life
Lt. Col. Mamun took retirement from active service in July 2000. But this time, he was in real trouble. He did not have any clue as to what to do in a civilian environment – with very little retirement benefits and no place of his own to live – with a family and two student children. General Mustafizur Rahman – the then Army Chief, appointed Lt. Col. Mamun as Director-Secretary of the Sena Kalyan Sangstha] ([[[SKS]]]) for his personal integrity and honesty. Lt. Col. Mamun took part in the planning and execution of Balancing, Modernization, Rehabilitation, and Expansion (BMRE) of SKS projects and helped the sagging cash-flow statement turn-around.
But the job with SKS was a two-year’ limited contract. Lt. Col. Mamun was jobless again in February 2003. All that Colonel Mamun had was his loving and caring wife and their two children, and God (in the Colonel’s own words).
But life never stops. Nor it did for Lt. Col. Mamun. He joined his long-term friend retired Colonel Nurun-Nabi – as the Vice Principal of the Milestone College in Uttara. After a successful stay in the College for a year and a half, Lt. Col. Mamun was taken-in by Captain Anisur Rahman Sinha: Chairman of the Opex Group – the largest Ready Made Garments manufacturer of the country (with controlling stakes in Lafarge Cements, and many other leading industrial conglomerates of the country).
Captain Anisur Rahman Sinha valued the integrity and professionalism of Lt. Col. Mamun. Shortly after joining the Group, Lt. Col. Mamun was put in-charge of its Sweater Division – which was about to be shut down.
Lt. Col. Mamun relocated his factory to Jamgara in Savar and turned the division around with a 400% increase in productive capacity – as well as 1200% increase in profitability.
Lt. Col. Mamun considers himself to be a humble servant of God the Almighty. With courage and conviction in the people he comes from (and serve), i.e., the nation, Colonel Mamun is marching forward with pride and honor.
