Mohammad Jahangir Alam Explained

Mohammad Jahangir Alam
Birth Date:19 October 1973
Birth Place:Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Serviceyears:1993 - Present
Rank: Brigadier General
Unit:East Bengal Regiment
Commands:
Battles:UNIKOM
Module:
Embed:yes
Service:Rapid Action Battalion
Branch: Bangladesh Police
Service Label:Unit
Rank: Additional Director
Years:2018–2019

Mohammad Jahangir Alam is a Bangladesh Army brigadier general and former commander of President Guard Regiment.[1] [2] He was commissioned with 29th BMA Long Course in Bangladesh Army.[3] He served as Additional Director General (Operations) at the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) - an elite multi-service unit of the Bangladesh Police.[4] He was one of seven officers of RAB sanctioned by the United States for violation of human rights.[5]

Early life

Alam was born on 10 October 1973 in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh.[6] He completed his master's degree in Defense Studies from the Bangladesh University of Professionals.[7]

Career

On December 19, 1993, Alam received his commission on the 29th long course of Bangladesh Military Academy.[8] He was commissioned in the Infantry Corps of Bangladesh Army.[9] He was trained in counter terrorist tactics in the United States.[10] He had previously commanded the 38 East Bengal Regiment of the 17th Infantry Division.[11] He worked as a platoon Commander in the Bangladesh Military Academy.

In October 2018, Alam, then lieutenant colonel, hosted the seventh annual Pacific Resilience Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange between Bangladesh Army and U.S. Army Pacific.[12] He served on deputation with the Kuwaiti Army for three years.[13] Alam was promoted on 11 January 2017 to colonel and appointed to the 19th Infantry Division, based at Shahid Salahuddin Cantonment, as the division Colonel Staff.[8]

Alam was appointed the Additional Director General (Operations) at the Rapid Action Battalion on 17 September 2018 replacing Colonel Mohammad Anwar Latif Khan.[14] He was appointed on deputation from Bangladesh Army.[15] He oversaw special security arrangements for the Pahela Baishakh celebrations in 2019.[16]

Alam left the Additional Director General (Operations) at the Rapid Action Battalion on 27 June 2019 and was replaced by Colonel Tofayel Mustafa Sorwar.[17] Alam was promoted to Brigadier General and posted to 203rd Infantry Brigade.[18] He was later appointed the Commander of the President Guard Regiment.[19]

U.S. sanctions

On 10 December 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury placed sanctions on Alam and added him to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under the Global Magnistsky Act for engaging in serious human rights abuses relating to his tenure at RAB, including the Killing of Ekramul Haque.[20] [21] [22] He was one of seven serving and former officers of RAB to be sanction by the United States.[23] Following the sanctions, the United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Earl R. Miller, was summoned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, A K Abdul Momen, who handed him a protest note.[24] He was asked by Prime Bank Limited to close his account at the bank, which had been suspended, due to the U.S. sanctions.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Int'l standards to be ensured for armed forces: PM . 2022-02-02 . New Age . en.
  2. Web site: Work to retain the glory of PGR: President . 2022-02-02 . unb.com.bd . English.
  3. Web site: 2018-09-18 . Col Jahangir new ADG of RAB . 2024-09-20 . daily-sun . en.
  4. Web site: 2021-12-13. Three ministers tasked to oversee US sanctions on RAB, its officials. 2022-02-02. The Business Standard. en.
  5. Web site: US imposes sanctions on RAB, 7 individuals. 2022-02-02. unb.com.bd. English.
  6. Web site: Global Magnitsky Designations; North Korea Designations; Burma-related Designations; Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List Update. 2022-02-02. U.S. Department of the Treasury. en.
  7. Web site: 2018-09-18. র‍্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক হলেন কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর আলম কালের কণ্ঠ. 2022-02-02. Kalerkantho. bn.
  8. Web site: Col Jahangir new ADG of RAB. 2022-02-02. Daily Sun. September 2018 . en.
  9. Web site: র‌্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর আলম. 2022-02-02. Dhakatimes News. bn.
  10. Web site: 2018-09-18. র‌্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর. 2022-02-02. banglanews24.com. bn.
  11. Web site: জাহাঙ্গীর আলম র‌্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক. 2022-02-02. Samakal. en.
  12. Web site: Bangladesh Disaster Response Exercise draws to a successful close. 2022-02-02. www.army.mil. en.
  13. Web site: 2018-09-18 . র‌্যাবের নতুন এডিজি হলেন কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর আলম . 2024-09-20 . Barta24 . en.
  14. Web site: United States Sanctions Bangladesh's RAB for 'Serious Human Rights Abuse'. 2022-02-02. Benar News. en.
  15. Web site: 2021-12-13. US sanctions on RAB: Key facts and analysis. 2022-02-02. Netra News . en-US.
  16. Web site: RAB's special security around Pahela Baishakh. 2022-02-02. Daily Bangladesh. en.
  17. Web site: Treasury Sanctions Perpetrators of Serious Human Rights Abuse on International Human Rights Day. 2022-02-02. U.S. Department of the Treasury. en.
  18. Web site: Khagrachari Cantonment Public School & College. 2022-02-02. www.kcpsc.edu.bd.
  19. Web site: PM urges PGR for highest professional sacrifice. 2022-02-02. Daily Bangladesh. en.
  20. Web site: ALAM, Mohammad Jahangir . sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov.
  21. Web site: US Imposes Sanctions on Top Officials of Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion Over Human Rights Abuse. 2022-02-02. The Wire.
  22. Web site: US Sanctions on Bangladesh's RAB: What Happened? What's Next?. 2 February 2022. cgs-bd.com. en.
  23. Web site: US sanctions RAB, seven officials for 'human rights abuse'. 2 February 2022. bdnews24.com.
  24. Web site: Sanction on RAB: Bangladesh summons US envoy. 2022-02-02. jagonews24.com. en-US.
  25. Web site: Prime Bank asks former RAB official sanctioned by the US to close account . 10 July 2022 . Prothomalo . 6 July 2022 . en.