REAR ADMIRAL MAHBUB ALI KHAN: A SYMBOL OF HARD WORK, HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

- August 02, 2020

[Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan]

It has been long, painful thirty-six years for the family since they suddenly lost Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan on August 6, 1984.

[Rear Admiral M.A. Khan with his elder daughter Shahina Khan Zaman, Poem written by Dr Zubaida Rahman]

A darkness of gloom descended on the family as they saw their light of happiness disappear, leaving the whole country in a pool of great shock.

[Shahina Khan Zaman mourns next to her father's grave]

The nation lost a valiant son. The night before his death, he conducted rescue operations of a crashed plane of Bangladesh airlines. Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan was a true patriot, a brave soldier, a devoted Muslim and above all, a man who always wanted to help the distressed humanity. He believed that patriotism without honesty is meaningless.

These qualities led to the making of a glowing and illustrious personality that touched the hearts of everyone he met and knew. He was a noble human being who sacrificed the last moments of his life to help the suffering humanity.

[M.A. Khan in his youth ]

The youngest of three children, M.A. Khan was born in an illustrious family in Sylhet. He was a lively, friendly, intelligent and helpful person all through his life. He was a graduate in Science and Law. His father, Barrister Ahmed Ali Khan M.A (Cantab), Tripos Wrangler, had a chequered career.

[Barrister Ahmed Ali Khan (Father)]

He was president of Congress of Assam Province, nominated as law minister of Hyderabad, visiting professor of Calcutta and Patna universities and member of the academic council of Calcutta University. M.A. Khanʼs mother was Jubaida Khatun, daughter of Khan Bahadur Wasiuddin Ahmed, a member of the Zamindar family of Asam.

[Jubaida Khatun (Mother)]

Rear Admiral M.A. Khanʼs grandfather Khan Bahadur Dr Assadar Ali Khan was a renowned Muslim physician who established Darbhanga Medical College and was the principal of Patna Medical College. He also founded the Nofiza Khatun Hospital in Birahimpur. He opened the Sylhet Matrimongol Nursing Training Centre, which he later donated for the then Government.

[Khan Bahadur Dr Assadar Ali Khan (Grandfather)]

He was honoured with the title of Khan Bahadur as a recognition of his humanitarian and charitable works. Dr Assadar Ali Khanʼs brother was Ghaznafar Ali Khan, and he was the first Muslim ICS officer from Assam (consisting of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa province). Ghaznafar Ali Khan was decorated with OBE (Order of the British Empire). Dr Assadar Ali Khanʼs other sons (M.A Khanʼs Uncles) included Barrister Mohammed Ali Khan MA (Cantab), Sadat Ali Khan (B.A, University of Oxford), Dr Basarat Ali Khan (FRCS, Royal College of Surgeons), Dr Jawad Ali Khan (specialist on Tuberculosis) and daughter (M.A Khanʼs Auntie) Ms Sayedunnessa Jill Khan, who was one of the first Muslim female graduates of the University of Oxford.

[Sir Syed Amir Ali (Great Grandfather)]

M.A. Khanʼs great grandfather was Alhaj Moulavi Abid Ali Khan, a philanthropist. Dr Assadar Ali Khan was the son in law of Sir Syed Amir Ali, who was a member of the Judicial Committee of the Royal Privy Council of England and also a member of the ‘Viceroyʼs Executive Councilʼ. The appointment in Privy Council entitled him to be addressed as The Right Honourable. He co-established the London Mosque fund in order to finance one of the largest mosques in Europe, The East London Mosque. His notable books include ‘The Spirit of Islamʼ, ‘Ethics of Islamʼ, ‘The Legal Position of Women in Islamʼ.

[M.A. Khan as a cadet of naval academy]

Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan joined the Navy after graduating (in Science) out of his love of oceans and his commitment to hard work. He took part in the language movement in 1952 during which time he was a student.

[Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England]

During his distinguished career he graduated from Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in the United Kingdom where he completed his training onboard Aircraft carrier ‘TRIUMPHʼ in 1954.

[President Ziaur Rahman with Rear Admiral M.A. Khan and Air Vice Marshal Sadruddin Mohammad Hossain]

He completed different professional courses from Royal Naval College, Greenwich in the UK. He did his specialisation course in Torpedo-Anti-Submarine Warfare from HMS Vernon, the UK in 1963 and Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom awarded him for being a disciplined officer. He did his staff course in then West Pakistan from Naval Staff College and senior management course from Institute of Management, Karachi.

[M.A. Khan with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second of the United Kingdom]

M.A. Khanʼs outstanding achievements made him capable of serving in different important positions both at the shore and at sea. He was Gunnery Officer of PNS ‘Tugrilʼ in 1960, Torpedo-Anti-Submarine officer of PNS ‘Tipu Sultanʼ in 1964, Staff Officer (Training and Military Assistance) in Joint Chiefʼs Secretariat in Ministry of Defence, Rawalpindi in 1967-68, Staff Officer (Underwater Warfare) at Naval Head Quarter, Karachi, Commanding officer of PNS ‘Mukhtarʼ in 1969, Officer-in-Charge of Torpedo and Anti-Submarine School at PNS ‘Himalayaʼ and also performed the duties as Seaward Defence Officer.

[M.A. Khan with his wife Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu]

He and his family escaped from then West Pakistan during the War of Liberation. They underwent a lot of hardships as they travelled through Afghanistan and India to reach Bangladesh.

[Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu with Queen Elizabeth the Second]

On return to Bangladesh, he was appointed as the first Bangladeshi commandant of Chattogram Marine Academy. The academy underwent huge development in all sectors under his able leadership.

[President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia at the state dinner with M.A. Khan and Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu]

In September 1974, M.A. Khan was reverted to the newly formed Bangladesh Navy and was appointed as the Director of Personnel Services at Naval Headquarter. Thus began his cherished dream of building a Bangladesh Navy that is comparable to defence services of other countries.

[M.A.Khan and navy personnel are standing with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Ziaur Rahman]

His dedication and hard work saw him gradually attaining higher positions in Bangladesh Navy.

[Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu with Begum Khaleda Zia at the national parade]

There was not a day when he didnʼt work hard. Work ethics of his standard are very rare to find. In February 1976, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations and Personnel) at Naval Head Quarter.

There are numerous establishments in Bangladesh Navy which still bear his name. It was sheer love for his country and its people that propelled him to deliver for them a Bangladesh Navy fit to meet the challenges of the twentieth century.

[M.A. Khan with Queen Elizabeth the Second]

He was the first Commanding Officer of first-ever acquired Frigate (from Royal Navy) of Bangladesh Navy, ‘BNS Umar Farooqʼ (Ex HMS Llandaff).

[BNS Umar Farooq (Ex HMS Llandaff)]

The long sea journey of BNS Umar Farooq from the UK to Bangladesh involved overcoming rough weather in the seas when sometimes almost everyone in the ship was seasick but M.A. Khan carried on with courage with few men. It involved crossing the Bay of Biscay, a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean south of the Celtic Sea. It is known for some of the worst weather in the Atlantic Ocean. Many ships were wrecked in Biscay storms and lives lost. The new ship of Bangladesh Navy touched many ports along the way namely Algeria, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka on goodwill visits. The years of hard work and sincerity were rewarded when he was appointed ‘Chief of the Naval Staffʼ of Bangladesh Navy on November 4, 1979. He was promoted to the rank of ‘Rear Admiralʼ on January 1, 1980.

[M.A. Khan with Justin Trudeau and his father Pierre Trudeau]

Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan was also chairman of ‘Administrative Re-Organization Implementation Councilʼ and chairman of ‘Armed Forces Pay and Pension Committeeʼ.

[M.A. Khan at the national parade with President Ziaur Rahman, Yasser Arafat (PLO Chairman) and Ahmed Sekou Toure (President of Guinea)]

Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan was entrusted as Minister for Communications when he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Martial Law Administrator. He later became Minister for Agriculture, the post which he served till his death. He represented Bangladesh as head of the delegation in many international conferences. He represented his country in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Jeddah in January 1982, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in Jamaica in December 1982. He also visited Thailand, Sri Lanka, China leading missions to conferences. Rear Admiral M.A. Khan represented Bangladesh at the funeral of President Leonid Brezhnev of Russia in November 1982 and at the funeral of President Ahmed Sekou Toure of Guinea in March 1984.

[Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu, Shahina Khan Zaman and Dr Zubaida Rahman with Begum Khaleda Zia]

His love for his country and sheer hard work saw him bring about great changes in the field of communication and administration. His pivotal role in bringing about the decentralisation of administration is still remembered.

[Rank badges and gallantry medals of M.A. Khan]

M.A. Khan was a keen sports lover and during his lifetime he was actively interested in promoting and organising sporting activities. His tenure in Bangladesh Navy saw the development of many sports facilities including football fields, tennis courts, badminton courts and swimming pools.

[Bangladesh Navy peaked cap, sword and aiguillette of M.A. Khan]

The nation will long remember him for his great contribution in building the Bangladesh Navy and restructuring in the field of communication and administrative reforms.

[Trophies and the mud-soaked white uniform he last wore are preserved at the Mahbub Museum]

Rear Admiral M.A. Khan left behind his wife and two daughters.

[M.A. Khan with his younger daughter Dr Zubaida Rahman]

The Mahbub Ali Khan Memorial Committee aims to promote and inspire people and organisation associated in the field of social work and also health and medical science. Since itʼs inception in 1985, Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan Memorial Award (gold medal) was given to several individuals and organisations for the highest contribution in the field of social work, health and medical science in Bangladesh as well as in the SAARC countries. The committee also inspires meritorious doctors from all medical colleges in Bangladesh.