24th Infantry Division (Bangladesh)

24th Infantry Division is a formation of the Bangladesh Army, headquartered in the Chittagong Cantonment of Chittagong District. The division covers the Chittagong Hill Tracts and is currently the largest military division in the country, consisting of 33% of total personnel of the Bangladesh army.^[1][2]

24th Infantry Division
Insignia of 24th Infantry Division
Active	1976—present
Country	Bangladesh
Branch	Bangladesh Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Military Division
Garrison/HQ	Chittagong Cantonment
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman
Notable commanders	Major General Atiqur Rahman Major General Abul Manzoor Major General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan Major General Mainur Rahman

History

24th Infantry Division traces its roots to 1972 at Kaptai. The 65th Independent Infantry Brigade was formed in Kaptai Cantonment under Colonel Mir Shawkat Ali. With 7 battalions, it was the largest brigade formation of newly formed Bangladesh Army. Later in 1976, the brigade was absorbed into the 24th Infantry Division which was raised at Chittagong Cantonment under the command of Major General Atiqur Rahman. It was composed of 65th in Kaptai and 69th Infantry Brigade stationed at the Chittagong Cantonment. At the onset of Chittagong Hill Tracts Conflict, the 24th Artillery Brigade in Guimara was established on 1982 and the 305th Infantry Brigade was established in 1983. Finally, the 203rd Infantry Brigade was ameliorated on 1987 in Khagrachhari Cantonment.

Operation Dragon Drive

Post-independence, Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party emerged as one of the main opponents of the new Awami League administration. In April 1973, the Purbo Banglar Jatiyo Mukti Front, a coalition of 11 groups, was formed. After the formation of the front, the party initiated a campaign of armed struggle against the Bangladeshi state. The party was active in the Dhaka, Barisal, Faridpur, Mymensingh, Tangail, Chittagong, Sylhet and Comilla districts. It carried out assassinations of Awami League cadres and attacks on thanas and government establishments throughout the country.^[3][4]

At the request of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, then 65th Infantry Brigade commander Brig. (later Maj. Gen.) Dastgir took over counter-insurgency operations in his command area and led Bangladesh's first successful combined army, navy and air force military operation called Operation Dragon Drive in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region against Sorbohara separatist insurgents in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.^{[citation needed]}

Assassination of Ziaur Rahman

Main article: Assassination of Ziaur Rahman

On 29 May 1981, Zia went on tour to Chittagong to help resolve an intra-party political dispute in the regional BNP. Zia and his entourage stayed overnight at the Chittagong Circuit House in Chittagong Cantonment. In the early hours of the morning of 30 May, he was assassinated by a group of army officers led by GOC of 24th Infantry Division Major General Abul Manzoor. Also killed were six of his bodyguards and two aides.^[5]

Manzoor was killed shortly after while being captured.^[6] 18 officers were brought before a military tribunal, 13 were sentenced to death whilst 5 were given varying prison sentences a hasty trial in a military court.^[7]

Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict

Main article: Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict

The Chittagong Hill Tracts Conflict was the political conflict and armed struggle between the Government of Bangladesh by the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (United People's Party of the Chittagong Hill Tracts) and its armed wing, the Shanti Bahini over the issue of autonomy and the rights of the tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

The Shanti Bahini launched an insurgency against government forces in 1977. 24th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army took part in this counter-insurgency operation. The conflict continued for twenty years until the government and the PCJSS signed the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in 1997.^[8][9] In February 1998, Shantu Larma formally disbanded the Shanti Bahini. Almost 1,500 fighters surrendered their weapons.^[10] According to official figure more than 8,500 rebels, soldiers and civilians were killed during two decades of insurgency.^[11][10]

The 24th Infantry Division participated in Operation Uttaran which was launched first in 2001.^[12]

Components

• 24th Artillery Brigade (Guimara Cantonment)
• 69th Infantry Brigade (Bandarban Cantonment)
• 203rd Infantry Brigade (Khagrachari Cantonment)
• 305th Infantry Brigade (Rangamati Cantonment)