46th Independent Infantry Brigade

46th Independent Infantry Brigade
Country  Bangladesh
Allegiance  Bangladesh
Branch  Bangladesh Army
Type Infantry
Size Brigade
Garrison/HQ Dhaka Cantonment
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Colonel Shafaat Jamil

46th Independent Infantry Brigade is a historical military unit of Bangladesh Army. The Unit is located in Dhaka Cantonment.[1] The Brigade is also known as the Dhaka Brigade.[2]

The current commander of this Brigade is Brigadier General Naqib Ahmed Chowdhory,psc.

History

After independence of Bangladesh of 1971, 46th Independent Infantry Brigade was created and commanded by some notable war commanders; among them were Lt. Colonel Ziauddin Ahmed (commander of 1st East Bengal during the war), Colonel Mainul Hossain (commander of 2nd East Bengal during the war, and later retired as Major General).

On August 15, 1975, two units of the brigade - 1st Bengal Lancers (commanded by Major Farook Rahman) and 2nd Field Artillery (commanded by Major Abdur Rashid)- overthrew the government led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and killed his entire family. At this time the brigade was commanded by Colonel Shafaat Jamil (commander of 3rd East Bengal during the war). After this coup, the chief of army staff Major General Shafiullah was replaced by his deputy Major General Zia ur Rahman. The coup resulted in a major disruption in army chain-of-command, and Majors Farook and Rashid installed themselves in the presidential palace and defied the army command structure. Dissatisfied with the situation, Chief of General Staff, Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf organized a coup on 3 November 1975. The infantry battalions of 46 Brigade - 1st East Bengal, 2nd East Bengal and 4th East Bengal - under the control of Colonel Shafayet Jamil, moved against its other units - 1st Bengal Lancers and 2nd Field Artillery. Captain Hafiz of the brigade was charged with detaining the army chief Major General Ziaur Rahman.[3] Bregadier Khaled became the new army chief and promoted himself to the rank of Major General. Surrounded by infantry units and buzzing Mig-21s of Air Force, after lengthy negotiations, Majors Farook, Rashid and the other members of the August coup of 1975 surrendered and left the country. However, the victory of Brigadier Khaled and the 46 Brigade lasted only 3 days, as a result of a counter coup by retired Colonel Abu Taher with the help of common soldiers of various units of 46 Brigade organized by socialist soldiers' cells; the common soldiers of the defeated units - abandoned by Majors Farook, Rashid and other officers leaving the country - also joined this counter-coup. This counter coup ended with the murder of Brigadier Khaled and two other prominent freedom fighters Colonel Huda (commander of Rangpur Brigade) Lt Colonel Haider (famous war hero from sector 2). Colonel Shafayet was injured while escaping but survived after surrendering.

In recent times, the Government of Bangladesh was criticized for not deploying the brigade to stop the Bangladesh Rifles mutiny in 2009.[4]

'Aurora Monsoon' Bangladesh Army’s 46th Independent Infantry Brigade soldier shakes hands with US Paratroopers

References

  1. ↑ "Shock, surprise unfolded". The Daily Star. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Of the helpless chiefs of army, air, navy". The Daily Star. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "It's not me, but Captain Hafiz went to arrest Zia: Maj Hafiz". The Daily Star. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "Neither Forgiven nor Forgotten". The Daily Star. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
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