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{{Short description| | {{Short description|Bengali army general}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | |||
|name=Mohammad Ishfaqul Mazid | |||
|native_name=মুহাম্মদ ইশফাকুল মজিদ | |||
|native_name_lang=bn | |||
|image=Major Mohammad Ishfakul Majid in Shillong Assam 1942.jpg | |||
|caption=Majid in his family home in [[Shillong]], [[Undivided Assam|Assam]] (1942) | |||
|birth_date={{birth date|1903|03|17|df=y}} | |||
|birth_place=[[Jorhat]], [[North-East Frontier|Assam]], [[British Raj|British India]] | |||
|alma_mater={{ubl|[[Cotton College, Guwahati]]|[[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]}} | |||
|death_date={{death date and age|1976|03|31|1903|03|17|df=y}} | |||
|death_place=[[Combined Military Hospital (Dhaka)|Combined Military Hospital]], [[Dhaka Division|Dhaka]], Bangladesh | |||
|allegiance={{ubl|{{flag|British India}}|{{PAK}}}} | |||
|branch={{army|British India}} {{small|(1924–1947)}}<br />{{army|PAK}} {{small|(1947–1951)}} | |||
|serviceyears= 1924-1951 | |||
|rank=[[File:OF-7 Pakistan Army.svg|20px]] [[Major General]] | |||
|unit=[[Royal Lincolnshire Regiment]] | |||
|commands=*GOC of [[XI Corps (Pakistan)|9th Infantry Division]] | |||
*Commander of [[34th Light Infantry Division|335th Infantry Brigade]] | |||
|battles=[[World War II]] | |||
*[[Burma campaign]] | |||
*[[Malayan campaign]] | |||
[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948]]<br />[[Bangladesh Liberation War]] | |||
}} | |||
'''Muhammed Ishfakul Majid''' (17 March 1903 — 31 March 1976) was the first [[Bengalis|Bengali]] General in the [[Pakistan Army]] and the senior most Pakistani Bengali officer at the time of the [[Partition of India]].<ref name=bpedia>{{Cite Banglapedia|article=Mazid,_Mohammad_Ishfaqul|title=Mazid, Mohammad Ishfaqul}}</ref> | |||
== | ==Early life and education== | ||
Majid was born on 17 March 1903 in [[Jorhat]], [[Assam]], [[British India]] to [[Abdul Majid (justice)|Abdul Majid]], the first Muslim who served as a Justice in the [[Calcutta High Court|Bengal High Court]]. He completed his undergraduate degree at [[Cotton College, Guwahati]]. On 2 February 1922, he joined the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]. He was the first graduate from Sandhurst in modern Bangladesh.<ref name=bpedia/> | |||
==Military career ( | ==Military career== | ||
[[File:Captain Mohammad Ishfakul Majid with British and Indian army officers 1934.jpg|thumb|Majid with British and Indian army officers (1934)]] | |||
Majid joined the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] on 2 February 1922. He was commissioned on 27 August 1924 on the Unattached List for the [[Indian Army]]. After his commission, he was attached with the second battalion of the [[Lincolnshire Regiment]] of the [[British Army]] for a year. On 31 October 1925, he was accepted for the [[British Indian Army]], being posted to the 4th Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment. He was promoted Lieutenant on 27 November 1926, Captain on 27 August 1933 and Major on 1 December 1941. He served in [[Burma]] and [[British Malaya]] during the [[Second World War]] attached to the [[Assam Regiment]].<ref name=bpedia/> | |||
== | In 1947, Majid joined the [[Pakistan Army]]. In the Pakistan Army, he was promoted to the rank of Major General.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shah|first1=Sabir|title=Appointments of Pakistan Army commanders and historic facts|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-217644-Appointments-of-Pakistan-Army-commanders-and-historic-facts|website=thenews.com.pk|publisher=The News International|accessdate=30 June 2015}}</ref> He became the [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]] of the [[XI Corps (Pakistan)|9th Infantry Division]] of the [[Pakistan Army]].<ref name="waqar">{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Waqar A. |date=2021-11-01 |title=Maj. Gen. Ishfakul Majid: Soldier & Gentleman |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/views/in-focus/news/maj-genishfakul-majid-soldier-gentleman-2210766 |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Majid was senior in rank to [[Ayub Khan (general)|Ayub Khan]], but Ayub Khan became the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army bypassing him, due to the lobbying of [[Iskander Mirza]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appointments of Pakistan Army commanders and historic facts |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/470253-appointments-of-pakistan-army-commanders-and-historic-facts |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref> Majid was named in the [[Rawalpindi conspiracy]] but he was later proved innocent.<ref name=bpedia /> | ||
Majid returned to [[East Pakistan]] in 1962.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} | |||
== Bangladesh Liberation War == | |||
He and Colonel [[M. A. G. Osmani]] met [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]] in March 1971 on behalf of retired Bengali soldiers and showed their loyalty towards an independent Bangladesh. Majid was later arrested in July 1971. | |||
The army authorities intensely pressurized him to give a statement against Sheikh Mujib denouncing him as a traitor, which he steadfastly refused to comply with. He was later sent to [[Old Dhaka Central Jail|Dhaka Central Jail]] where he was held in isolation and finally released in August 1971.<ref name="waqar" /> | |||
==Personal life== | |||
Majid married three times. In 1935, Majid married Ayesha Rahim, the youngest daughter of Justice [[Abdur Rahim (judge)|Sir Abdur Rahim]] of [[Midnapore]], Bengal. Ayesha's eldest sister Niaz Fatima was married to [[Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy]]. After Ayesha's death in 1941, Majid married Zohra Raza, the sister-in-law of Raja Syed Mohammad Sa'adat Ali Khan of [[Nanpara]] State in [[Bahraich]] (now in [[Uttar Pradesh]]). The marriage ended in a divorce in the late 1950s. After moving to [[East Pakistan]], he married Begum Marium Ladli in 1961. The couple adopted a daughter.<ref name=waqar/> | |||
== Death == | == Death == | ||
Majid died on 31 March 1976 in [[Combined Military Hospital (Dhaka)|Combined Military Hospital]], Dhaka.<ref name=bpedia/> He was buried at [[Azimpur, Dhaka|Azimpur]] Graveyard with full military honours.<ref name="waqar" /> | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Majid, Major General Ishfakul}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Majid, Major General Ishfakul}} | ||
[[Category:1903 births]] | [[Category:1903 births]] | ||
[[Category:1976 deaths]] | [[Category:1976 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:People from Shillong]] | |||
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] | |||
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]] | |||
[[Category:Pakistan Army major generals]] | |||
[[Category:Generals of the Bangladesh Liberation War]] | |||
[[Category:Bengali military personnel]] | |||
Latest revision as of 03:29, 27 February 2026
Mohammad Ishfaqul Mazid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | মুহাম্মদ ইশফাকুল মজিদ |
| Born | 17 March 1903 Jorhat, Assam, British India |
| Died | 31 March 1976 (aged 73) Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/ |  British Indian Army (1924–1947) Pakistan Army (1947–1951) |
| Years of service | 1924-1951 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | Royal Lincolnshire Regiment |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | World War II
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948 Bangladesh Liberation War |
| Alma mater | |
Muhammed Ishfakul Majid (17 March 1903 — 31 March 1976) was the first Bengali General in the Pakistan Army and the senior most Pakistani Bengali officer at the time of the Partition of India.[1]
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Majid was born on 17 March 1903 in Jorhat, Assam, British India to Abdul Majid, the first Muslim who served as a Justice in the Bengal High Court. He completed his undergraduate degree at Cotton College, Guwahati. On 2 February 1922, he joined the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was the first graduate from Sandhurst in modern Bangladesh.[1]
Military career[edit | edit source]
Majid joined the Royal Military College, Sandhurst on 2 February 1922. He was commissioned on 27 August 1924 on the Unattached List for the Indian Army. After his commission, he was attached with the second battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment of the British Army for a year. On 31 October 1925, he was accepted for the British Indian Army, being posted to the 4th Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment. He was promoted Lieutenant on 27 November 1926, Captain on 27 August 1933 and Major on 1 December 1941. He served in Burma and British Malaya during the Second World War attached to the Assam Regiment.[1]
In 1947, Majid joined the Pakistan Army. In the Pakistan Army, he was promoted to the rank of Major General.[2] He became the GOC of the 9th Infantry Division of the Pakistan Army.[3] Majid was senior in rank to Ayub Khan, but Ayub Khan became the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army bypassing him, due to the lobbying of Iskander Mirza.[4] Majid was named in the Rawalpindi conspiracy but he was later proved innocent.[1]
Majid returned to East Pakistan in 1962.[citation needed]
Bangladesh Liberation War[edit | edit source]
He and Colonel M. A. G. Osmani met Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in March 1971 on behalf of retired Bengali soldiers and showed their loyalty towards an independent Bangladesh. Majid was later arrested in July 1971. The army authorities intensely pressurized him to give a statement against Sheikh Mujib denouncing him as a traitor, which he steadfastly refused to comply with. He was later sent to Dhaka Central Jail where he was held in isolation and finally released in August 1971.[3]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
Majid married three times. In 1935, Majid married Ayesha Rahim, the youngest daughter of Justice Sir Abdur Rahim of Midnapore, Bengal. Ayesha's eldest sister Niaz Fatima was married to Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. After Ayesha's death in 1941, Majid married Zohra Raza, the sister-in-law of Raja Syed Mohammad Sa'adat Ali Khan of Nanpara State in Bahraich (now in Uttar Pradesh). The marriage ended in a divorce in the late 1950s. After moving to East Pakistan, he married Begum Marium Ladli in 1961. The couple adopted a daughter.[3]
Death[edit | edit source]
Majid died on 31 March 1976 in Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka.[1] He was buried at Azimpur Graveyard with full military honours.[3]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- London Gazette (various dates)
- Indian Army List (various dates)
- The History Of The Assam Regiment Vol-I (Captain Peter Steyn)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir, eds. (2012). "Mazid, Mohammad Ishfaqul". Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Shah, Sabir. "Appointments of Pakistan Army commanders and historic facts". thenews.com.pk. The News International. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Khan, Waqar A. (1 November 2021). "Maj. Gen. Ishfakul Majid: Soldier & Gentleman". The Daily Star. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ↑ "Appointments of Pakistan Army commanders and historic facts". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 May 2025.