Abu Tayeb Muhammad Zahirul Alam

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Abu Tayeb Muhammad Zahirul Alam
Born1952 (1952) (age 73)
Boalkhali, East Bengal, Pakistan
AllegianceFlag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh
BranchFlag of the Bangladesh Army.svg  Bangladesh Army
Years of service1975–2008
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit East Bengal Regiment
Commands
Battles / wars
AwardsSword of Honour (BMA)

Abu Tayeb Muhammad Zahirul Alam is a retired lieutenant general of the Bangladesh Army. He served as force commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). He was the first officer in the Bangladesh Army to achieve such a high post in a UN Peacekeeping Mission. Previously he was the commandant of the National Defence College, Bangladesh. [1] [2] [3] [4] He is serving as chairman of Hamdard Public College's governing body. [5]

Contents

Personal life and education

He was born in 1952 in Boalkhali, East Bengal (now Bangladesh). He is married and has two children.

Alam obtained his master's degree in war studies from King's College London in 1993, where he was a Chevening Scholar, and has studied at the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom.

Career

In Army

He joined the army in 1975 and has served in various capacities. From 1998 to 2000, he was director of military training at the Army headquarters. During 2001–2003, he served as division commander. Prior to his appointment as force commander of United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), he was serving as commandant of the National Defence College, from 04 Jan 2004 to 12 Jun 2008. [1] He was supposed to join the High Commission to Australia as an ambassador, but later Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury joined instead. Then, he got the prestigious appointment as force commander at Liberia. [6]

UN mission

From 1994 to 1996, he commanded a mechanized infantry battalion within the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM). He was appointed as force commander of UNMIL by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in October 2008. [2]

Post-retirement

After retirement, Zahirul joined as president of the seven-member executive committee of the Chevening Society of Bangladesh. [7] He served as chairman of the Audit Committee of United Commercial Bank. [8] He was chef de mission of the Bangladesh contingent for the Rio Olympics. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "National Defence CollegeMission and Vision |". ndc.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  2. 1 2 "Secretary-General Intends to Appoint Lieutenant General A.T.M. Zahirul Alam of Bangladesh Force Commander of United Nations Mission in Liberia | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org (Press release). Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  3. ↑ ""We Must Redouble Our Efforts" – UN Envoy in Liberia Urges Peacekeepers as She Honors Them". NewLiberian.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-11. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  4. ↑ "First athlete flies today". The Daily Star. 2016-07-31. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  5. ↑ "Chairman of Hamdard Public College". 2021-11-21. Archived from the original on 2014-07-10.
  6. ↑ "Lt Gen Zahirul joins foreign ministry". bdnews24.com. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  7. ↑ "Zahirul president, Halim general secretary of CSB". The Daily Star. 2011-05-09. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  8. ↑ "UCB - United We Achieve". www.ucb.com.bd. Archived from the original on 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  9. ↑ "Last batch of BD contingent leave for Rio Olympics tomorrow". BSS. Archived from the original on 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
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