A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman

A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman^[a][b] is a veteran who served as a two star officer of the Bangladesh Army and director general of Bangladesh Rifles.^[1] As of May 2025, Rahman has been working as a security analyst for the Government of Bangladesh.^[2]

Major General A. L. M. Fazlur Rahman
Rahman talking with a peacekeeper stationed in Bihać during the Yugoslav War, 1994
12th Director General of Bangladesh Rifles
In office 29 February 2000 – 11 July 2001
President	Shahabuddin Ahmed
Prime Minister	Sheikh Hasina
Preceded by	Mohammad Azizur Rahman
Succeeded by	Mohammad Abu Ishaque Ibrahim
Military service
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Branch/service	Mukti Bahini  Bangladesh Army Bangladesh Rifles
Years of service	1971–2001
Rank	Major General
Unit	East Bengal Regiment
Commands	Director General of Bangladesh Rifles GOC of 33rd Infantry Division Commandant of School of Infantry and Tactics
Battles/wars	Bangladesh Liberation War Bosnian War 2001 Bangladesh-India border clashes

Education

Rahman acquired his temporary commission from Dacca in the 2nd East Bengal Regiment during the Bangladesh War of Independence. His brigade commander lieutenant colonel K. M. Shafiullah cited him as a fierce and sincere officer under his command at the battle of Shiromoni. After the war, Rahman finished his military training from the Turkish Military Academy till 1973. Rahman is a graduate of the Defence Services Command and Staff College and furthermore one of the pioneer batch of international officers at the National Defence University of Malaysia on 1995. ^[3]

Military career

Rahman commanded one company under the 4th East Bengal Regiment and two infantry battalions at Jessore Cantonment and Cumilla Cantonment respectively. As colonel, Rahman was sector commander Bangladesh Rifles in Rangpur District and colonel administrative at Bogra area headquarters. He was soon promoted to brigadier general on 1993 and was designated as commandant of the School of Infantry and Tactics. He was then ameliorated major general on March 1997 and appointed as general officer commanding of 33rd infantry division and area commander Comilla area. Rahman tenured on Comilla for three years till his recall to Ministry of Home Affairs on February 2000. Rahman's renowned unforeseeable nature led him to a truncated retirement on September 2001 as ambassador of Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the First Hasina ministry and then the Latifur Rahman ministry.

On December 2024, he was appointed as the chairman of the National Independent Commission, assigned to reinvestigate the killings in Bangladesh Rifles revolt of 2009.^[4] The commission will be investigating both the domestic and foreign involvement in the incident within a specified three-month time frame.^[5]

As Director General of Bangladesh Riffles

Further information: 2001 Bangladesh–India border clashes

Rahman was made the chief of Bangladesh Rifles on 29 February 2000.^[6] His short rule of BDR is noted for being the most progressive jurisdiction with Bangladesh's bordering neighbours.^[3] Rahman was in command during the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border skirmish on 2000 at Teknaf. These disputes escalated eight years later on 2008 Bangladesh–Myanmar naval standoff. ^[7]

On April 2001, a conflict occurred within the bordering regions between India's eastern region and Northern Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Rifles claimed that the village of Pyrdiwah had been illegally occupied by India since Bangladesh Liberation War.^[8] Border Security Force is the primary defence force of Indian borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan. Their post in Padua village was encircled, trapping 31 Border security troops. However, Bangladesh Rifles and the Border Security Force held their fire and began negotiations. 3 Border security companies proceeded to reinforce the outpost. This incident was resolved later without any bloodshed.^[9]

After the Padua incident, a company of 300 Border security troops entered Kurigram near the village of Boraibari as a planned counter-attack to retaliate after the earlier incident in Padua.^[10] After entering Bangladeshi territory, the Border security force troops were ambushed by at least 4 battalions of the Bangladesh Rifles and the Indian counterattack failed as a result.^[11] Along with that, the Bangladesh Rifles battalions were assisted by hundreds of villagers. Boraibari clashes ended on 21 April 2001, after both sides agreed to a ceasefire. The clashes left a total of 21 people dead, including 16 Indian soldiers and 3 Bangladeshi Rifles soldier. Soon after three months later, he left the office of director general preceding major general Abu Ishaque Ibrahim.^[12][13]

United Nations peacekeeping missions

Rahman was the first contingent commander of Bangladesh UN Peacekeeping Force to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1994 where he served during Battle of Orašje and the Siege of Bihać. He served with the initial forces of the future United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (formed in December that year) until May 1995.

Personal life

Rahman founded the citizens' organization Nirdolio Jono Andolon (lit. 'Non-partisan People's Movement') on April 2004. He has expressed his displeasure towards India's activities in Bangladesh and has spoken out against India's influence in country.^[14][15]

On 29 April 2025, following the 2025 India–Pakistan standoff, Rahman suggested in a Facebook post that Bangladesh should annex India's seven northeastern states if India invades Pakistan and urged the government to make "a joint military arrangement" with China on this regard. This remark sparked controversy among Indians who perceived this provocative and drew it's connection to the interim government due to the Rahman's association with the government. Later the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh clarified this remark as "entirely personal" that "do not reflect the position or policies of the Government of Bangladesh".^[16]