SYLHET: The September 1 (Sunday) is the 95th birth anniversary of General Muhammad Ataul Ghani Osmani, commander-in-chief of the Liberation War.

Osmani was born in Sunamganj, Sylhet Division, on September 1 in 1918. He was a descendant of Shah Nizamuddin Osmani of Dayamir, Balaganj, who came to Sylhet with Hazrat Shah Jalal (R) in 1303.

In 1939, Osmani started his military career as a Cadet during rule under the British Empire in the Indian Military Academy at Dehra Dun.

Upon completion of training, which lasted from July 1939 to October 1940, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the British-Indian Army as an artillery officer in 1940.

During World War II, he commanded an ASC (Army Service Corps) unit, serving in the Burma front. Osmani was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1941 and received a battlefield promotion to the rank of Major in 1942 and at the age of 23.

As a Major he commanded a Motor Transport battalion and after the war ended, he was selected to attend the Staff Course in Quetta, Pakistan, and upon completion of the course in 1947, he was selected for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

As the British Empire dissolved with the birth of two nations of India and Pakistan in 1947, Osmani received his promotion soon after the new Pakistan Army was organized.

On April 10, Bengali Government in Exile at Agartola appointed Col. Osmani Commander of Bangladesh Forces.

With the formation of Bangladesh government on 17 April 1971, retired Colonel Osmani was reinstated to active duty under the authority of Bangladesh government and appointed as Commander-in-Chief of all Bangladesh Forces.

He was later promoted to the rank of full General in 1971.

Muhammad Ataul Ghani Osmani is regarded in Bangladesh as one of the greatest leaders and heroes of the nation’s freedom fighters, and regarded as a brave man (Bonga Bir) never afraid of laying down his life.

Under his command, the organization and conduct of Bangladesh Armed Forces came into being without whom it would have been very difficult.

The international airport in his hometown of Sylhet, where he is respected and remembered very much, has been named after him as Osmani International Airport (Osmani Antorjatik Biman Bondor).

Even the state-run hospital in Sylhet is named after him, as Osmani Medical College and Hospital.

BDST: 1222 HRS, SEP 01, 2013
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