VIP of Bogra-sador

MShaukat-ul Islam (Jinnah)

Group Captain Shaukat-ul Islam (Jinnah) was born in 1941 in a well known family of Chawk Sutrapur, BograShaukat was very ambitious and smart in his childhood. He passed the Secondary School Examination from Bogra Government Zilla School and Intermediate in Science from A H College, Bogra in 1960. There after he joined the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in 1961 and graduated from Risalpur Flying Academy in GD (P) branch in 1963. He completed the Jet Conversion course in PAF Mauripur, Karachi in 1964 and joined the Fighter Squadron No. 11 in PAF Sargodha in the same year.

Shaukat was narrating his colourful heroic experience in an interview with BograInfoPortal. He is an admirable personality for the younger generation and has a profound respect in Bogra. He took part in the Indo-Pak war in 1965 as a Flying Officer and flew a total of 19 operational missions. On 16th September he was shot down in an F-86 Sabre Jet over Halwara, East Panjab while in an aerial combat with a Hunter aircraft. His aircraft caught fire and after ejection, while he was coming down by parachute he was fired from the ground and got injured by bullet wounds which was removed from his body after operation in a Military hospital. He spent about four and a half months as a prisoner of war and came back to join his old No 11 Squadron. Thereafter he served in various fighter squadrons of the PAF until 1970.

In early 1971 he was posted to Turkish Air Force from where he defected and came back to join the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). In Bangladesh he served for about 11 years in various posts, like Squadron Commander of MIG-21 fighter squadron, Base Commander Dhaka and retired as a Group Captain from the post of Assistant Chief of Air staff ( Operation & Training) in 1982. In his Air Force career of 21 years he flew 13 types of various fighters and other aircrafts. After retirement from the BAF the government of Bangladesh decided to utilize his experience in civil administration and he was posted as Chairman Tourism Corporation, Chairman Civil Aviation Authority and Managing Director Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Shaukat-ul Islam finally retired from the civil service in 1993. At present he is working as an Adviser with a private company known as GETCO Ltd

Air Vice Marshal Khademul Bashar

Bashar, (Air Vice Marshal) M Khademul (1935-1976) chief of Bangladesh Air Force. Born in Bogra on 1 September 1935 He passed Matriculation examination from Satkhira Prananath High School and ISc from Rajshahi College. He joined the flying branch of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as a cadet in 1953. Having obtained his graduation from the Military Academy, Khademul Bashar joined the Fighter squadron. In 1960, he was transfered to the newly established Bombing squadron of PAF. He was in command of a Bombing squadron in 1969-70, and was then the only Bangali holding such position. Khademul Bashar was honoured with Flying Proficiency Badge in 1969, and was invested with the insignia of TBT for his extraordinary performance in the Air Force. He was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander in 1970, and was in command of a Radar squadron in Dhaka.

Khademul Bashar joined the WAR OF LIBERATION in 1971, and though an officer of the Air Force he was deputed to command the land force in the districts of Rangpur and Dinajpur (Sector 6). After liberation he was appointed as Brigade Commander in Rangpur, and was promoted to the rank of Group Captain in February 1972. He returned to the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) service in July 1972, and was posted as lieutenant in BAF Dhaka Base.

Khademul Bashar was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore in October 1973, and was appointed Deputy Chief of Air Staff in charge of operation and training. He was appointed Chief of Air Staff in 1976. With his elevation to the rank of Air Vice Marshal (3 May 1976) he was appointed Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator in charge of the Ministries of Petroleum, Food and Civil Aviation, and Department of Tourism.

Khademul Bashar had great contribution to the formation of the Bangladesh Air Force in 1971, and had vital role in rebuilding the Force after liberation. He was vested with the insignia of 'Bir Uttam' for his contribution to the War of Liberation. He died on 1 September 1976 in a plane crash while himself piloting an inaugural flight on the occasion of the opening of Flying Instructors School at BAF Dhaka Base. Dhaka Base was subsequently renamed after him as BAF Bashar Base. [FM Mostafizur Rahman.

The Russian MiG-21 proved itself over and over as a formidable dogfighter against the heavier American fighters which was another reason for the success of the MiG-21. Its reliable engine, easy maintenance, rough field capabilities, and safe flight characteristic made it the most successful jet aircraft of all times

Mohammad Ali Bogra with Pandit Jawhar Lal Neheru in New Delhi 1953

Muhammad Ali was born in Bogra in an aristocratic Nawab family. Officialy he was carring the family name Bogra. He studied at the Calcutta University and in 1937 he was elected to the Bengal legislative assembly. In 1943, Muhammad Ali became parliamentary secretary to Khawaja Nazimuddin, the then Chief Minister of Bengal in undivided India. Later in 1946, he became Finance and Health Minister of the province. After the formation of Pakistan, he was appointed Ambassador to Burma in 1948 High Commissioner to Canada in 1949 and finally Ambassador to USA in 1952.

Khawaja Nazimuddin, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan was dismissed by the Governor General, Malik Ghulam Muhammad in April 1953, and Muhammad Ali Bogra was appointed Prime Minister on April 17, 1953 by the Governor General. Muhammad Ali Bogra was very renowned diplomat but almost unknown as a politician. His appointment as Prime Minister came as a surprise to political observers and public alike, and it was widely suspected that his transfer from Washington to Karachi, elevation to the office was a prelude to closer relations between the US and Pakistan. Only three days after the new premier's nomination, the US President Eisenhower asked Congress for authority to ship hundreds and thousands of tons of wheat to Pakistan. The US was at that time conducting a vigorous anti-Communist policy and looking for friends in Asia. Pakistan entered into defense pacts with it. After the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in 1954 by the governor-general, Muhammad Ali was again invited to form a new cabinet call "ministry of all talents." Muhammad Ali Bogra was replaced by Chaudhary Muhammad Ali in August 1955 after the second constituent Assembly was elected. Muhammad Ali again resumed his assignment as ambassador to the USA. He died in the year 1969 and has been buried in the family gravie of Bogra Nawab Palace. [mh]