Mir Shawkat Ali

Mir Shawkat Ali Bir Uttom
Member of Parliament for Dhaka-8
In office 5 March 1991 – 24 November 1995
Prime Minister	Khaleda Zia
Preceded by	Anwar Hossain
Succeeded by	Haji Mohammad Salim
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
In office 27 July 1986 – 30 July 1987
President	Hussain Muhammad Ershad
Preceded by	Fakhruddin Ahmed
Succeeded by	Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) K M Shafiullah
3rd Principal Staff Officer of Armed Forces Division
In office 12 December 1980 – 30 June 1985
President	Ziaur Rahman Abdus Sattar A. F. M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury Hussain Muhammad Ershad
Prime Minister	Shah Azizur Rahman Ataur Rahman Khan
Preceded by	Nurul Islam Shishu
Succeeded by	Imamuzzaman Chowdhury
Personal details
Born	11 January 1938 (1938-01-11) (age 86) Dacca, Bengal, British India
Died	20 November 2010 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Resting place	Banani military graveyard
Awards	Bir Uttom[1]
Military service
Allegiance	Bangladesh  Pakistan (before 1971)
Branch/service	Bangladesh Army  Pakistan Army
Years of service	1958 - 1985
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	East Bengal Regiment
Commands	PSO of the Armed Forces Division CGS of Army Headquarters GOC of 9th Infantry Division Commander of 65th Independent Infantry Brigade Commander of Sector - V
Battles/wars	Bangladesh Liberation War 1965 Indo-Pak War

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 freedom fighter during the Bangladesh Liberation War and a sector commander of the Mukti Bahini. He was the state minister of food, and cabinet minister of labour and manpower. He was a war hero and awarded the Bir Uttom for his contribution during the Bangladesh Liberation War.^[2][3]

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.^[3]

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

After 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.^[3]

He commanded the Battle of Kalurghat in April 1971. After Kalurghat fell, he retreated to 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.

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.^[3]

From 1980 to 1985, he was the Principal Staff Officer of the Bangladesh Army.

He retired at the rank of Lieutenant General.

After retirement, he served as the 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.^[4] He was the vice president of Sector Commanders Forum.^[3]

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:

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.

He was one of the pioneers of war crimes trial movement. He campaigned countrywide to raise support for the trial.^[4][5]

On 20 November 2010, he died in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was buried with full military honors in Banani Military graveyard.^[3][5]