Mir Shawkat Ali

2021-11-08T15:30:48Z

42.110.136.133: /* In Pakistan army */

{{short description|Bangladeshi revolutionary and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
|name= Mir Shawkat Ali
| honorific_suffix= [[Bir Uttom]]
|order = Member of the [[Jatiyo Sangshad]] from [[Dhaka]]-8
|image=
|width=
|caption=
|predecessor = Anwar Hossain
| primeminister = [[Khaleda Zia]]
|successor = [[Haji Mohammad Salim]]
| office1 = [[Bangladesh]] [[High Commissioner]] to the [[United Kingdom]]
| predecessor1 = Fakhruddin Ahmed
| president1 = [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]]
| successor1 = [[Major General|Maj. Gen.]] (Rtd.) [[K M Shafiullah]]
|birth_date={{b-da|11 January 1938}}
|birth_place=[[Dhaka]]
|death_date= 20 November 2010
|death_place=[[Dhaka]]
| resting_place = Banani military graveyard
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|Bangladesh}}<br />{{flag|Pakistan}} (before 1971)
|branch={{plainlist|*{{army|Bangladesh}}
* {{army|Pakistan}}}}
|serviceyears={{plainlist|
* (1971-1981) [[Bangladesh]]
* (1958-1971) [[Pakistan]]}}
|rank= [[Lieutenant-General]]
|unit=[[East Bengal Regiment]]
|commands={{plainlist|
* Principal Staff Officer of the army
* Chief of General Staff
* Sector Commander of the [[Sector 5]]}}
|battles={{plainlist|
* [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]
* [[1965 Indo-Pak War]]}}
|awards=[[Bir Uttom]]
|term_start = 27 February 1991
|term_end = 1996
| term_start1 = 27 July 1986
| term_end1 = 30 July 1987
|laterwork=
}}

'''Mir Shawkat Ali''', [[Bir Uttom]] (11 January 1938 - 20 November 2010) was a general in [[Bangladesh Army]] and also a politician of the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]]. He was a [[Resistance movement|freedom fighter]] during [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Bangladesh liberation war]] and a [[List of sectors in the Bangladesh Liberation War|Sector Commander]] of the [[Mukti Bahini]]. He was the state minister Food, and cabinet minister of Labour and Manpower. He was awarded the Bir Uttom for his contribution during Bangladesh liberation war.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mir Shawkat no more|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-163011 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=11 November 2016|date=21 November 2010}}</ref><ref name="hgfd">{{cite web|url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Ali,_Lt_General_Mir_Shawkat|title=Ali, Lt General Mir Shawkat|website=Banglapedia|last1=Hossain|first1=Urmee|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref>

==Early life==
He was born in Nazira Bazar, [[Dhaka]], [[East Bengal]] on 11 January 1938 . He studied at [[Mahuttuli Free Primary School]] in Dhaka. He graduated from [[Armanitola Government High School]] in 1953 and [[Dhaka College]] in 1955. After graduation he joined the [[Pakistan Military Academy]]. In 1958 he received his commission in [[Pakistan army]].<ref name="hgfd" />

==Military career==

=== In Pakistan army ===
He was commissioned in the 1st East Bengal Regiment (Senior Tigers) but served in a number of units including the military intelligence department. He first experience of battle came from the [[1965 Indo-Pak War]] in [[Rangpur District|Rangpur]] border. He joined the Eighth East Bengal Regiment in 1971 at [[Sholoshohor Ward|Sholasahar]], [[Chittagong]].

=== Bangladesh liberation war ===
After [[Operation Searchlight|Operation searchlight]] on 25 March 1971, he revolted with his unit the Eighth [[East Bengal Regiment]]. He joined the Bangladesh Liberation war. On 30 March 1971 he was given command of the entire Regiment.<ref name="hgfd" />

He commanded the [[Battle of Kalurghat]] in April 1971. After [[Kalurghat]] fell he retreated to [[Bandarban District|Bandarban]] with his unit. He crossed the border into India. After the formation of Mujibnagar government he was appointed sector-5 commander. He commanded 12 thousand men in his sector. In August 1971 he was promoted to Lieutenant colonel.

For his gallantry he was awarded [[Bir Uttom]], the second highest award in Bangladesh for his role in the war.

=== In Bangladesh army ===
He formed the Infantry Brigade in Chittagong from 1972 to 1974. In 1975 he was made the Chief of General Staff of Bangladesh army. He was chairman of [[Old Dhaka]] Development Committee and [[Bangladesh Football Federation]], Chief Martial Law Administrator of Dhaka.<ref name="hgfd" />

From 1980 to 1981 he was the Principal Staff Officer of the Bangladesh Army.

He retired in the rank of Lieutenant-General.

== Political career ==
After retirement he served as ambassador to Egypt, Austria, United Kingdom, Sudan, Germany, and Portugal. He resigned his diplomatic post in protest against the dictatorship of [[Hussain Muhammad Ershad]].

He joined the [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] shortly afterwards. In 1991 he was elected to parliament from [[Dhaka-8]]. He was the state minister Food, and cabinet minister of Labour and Manpower .<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://bdnews24.com/politics/2007/01/29/shawkat-ali-attacks-bnp-s-alliance-with-jamaat-quits-party-post|title=Shawkat Ali attacks BNP's alliance with Jamaat, quits party post|newspaper=bdnews24.com|access-date=2016-11-21}}</ref> He was the vice president of Sector Commanders Forum.<ref name="hgfd" />

== War criminals trial ==
As a freedom fighter he took issue with BNP's alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami since their top leaders were accused of war crime. He left BNP because of disagreements with chairperson [[Khaleda Zia]] regarding [[Jamaat-e-Islami]] inclusion in the [[Four Party Alliance]]'''.''' In a statement he said''','''<blockquote>"It hurts my conscience when I have to sit with Razakaar and al-Badrs at the same table. It reminds me of the days in 1971 when boys fought under my command and laid down their lives." </blockquote>He was one of the pioneers of war crimes trial movement. He campaigned countrywide to raise support for the trial.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/bangladesh-war-hero-buried-military-honors-monday.html|title=Bangladesh war hero to be buried with military honors on Monday|access-date=2016-11-21}}</ref>

== Death ==
On 20 November 2010 he died in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was buried with full military honors in Banani Military graveyard.<ref name="hgfd" /><ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Mir Shawkat}}
[[Category:Bangladesh Army generals]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians]]
[[Category:High Commissioners of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Mukti Bahini personnel]]
[[Category:5th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:6th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bir Uttom]]

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Mir Shawkat Ali