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A BIOGRAPHY OF
Abdul Karim Khandker
(Former Planning Minister)
(Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, 2009-2014)
A BIOGRAPHY OF ABDUL KARIM KHANDKER
Abdul Karim Khandker was born in Jhalakathi, Rangpur district, East Bengal (now Bangladesh). He graduated from the University of Dhaka in 1949 and joined the diplomatic service of the Bangladeshi government in 1952. He joined the British diplomatic mission in India as a First Secretary at the time of India’s independence in 1947. From 1956 to 1967, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Pakistani Armed Forces. After Pakistan’s independence in 1947, he served as Ambassador to India from 1957 to 1962 and then again from 1967 to 1971. In 1971, he became Minister of State for Foreign Affairs under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and remained there until 1975. In that year he was appointed Ambassador to Japan and served until 1980. Between 1980 and 1982, Khandker was the Special Envoy for Bangladesh’s peace process with the Indian government. From 1982 to 1986, he served as Ambassador to Canada and then returned to his previous post as Ambassador to Japan from 1986 to 1988. From 1988 to 1990, he was Governor of the Chittagong Division. In 1990, Khandker retired from the Bangladeshi diplomatic service and began working for private companies in Asia and Africa. Khandker retired in 1998 but remained active in politics. He won a seat in parliament in 2001 and was again elected in 2008 and 2014. In 2014, he was appointed chairman of the Bangladesh National Economic Council by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He died on 24 April 2015, aged 84.
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Born: 1930 BC
Birth Place: Pabna, Bangladesh
Known For:
⁍ Bangladesh Air Force air marshals
⁍ Bangladesh Air Force personnel of the Bangladesh Liberation War
⁍ Bangladesh Air Force chiefs of staff
⁍ Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians
⁍ Bangladesh Nationalist Party MPAs (5th Parliament)
Awarded: Bir Uttom
Affiliation:
⁍ Planning Ministry (Bangladesh)
⁍ High Commissioners of Bangladesh to India
⁍ Deputy Chief of Staff of Mukti Bahini
⁍ Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
⁍ High Commissioner to Australia Jatiyo Sangshad member from Pabna
Last Position: Planning minister of the Government of Bangladesh
Death: 1 January 2020
Early Life and Education:
He was born on 30 May 1930 in Sathia Upazila of Pabna District in East Bengal, British India. He completed his matriculation from Pabna Zila School in 1945. He was a student of the 14th Pakistan Air Force Academy batch. He went to the United Kingdom for higher studies and studied at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. He graduated from the Royal Air Force College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical engineering in 1956. After his graduation, he served in the Royal Air Force for two years and later joined the Pakistan Air Force in 1958. He took part in the Air Command and Staff College in the United States
Career
During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Khandker was made the head of the Bangladesh Air Force on 27 March 1971. He became Air Vice Marshal and the air staff chief after Bangladesh’s independence.
He was the planning minister of Bangladesh from 1976 to 1977. He was the Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Planning and a member of the National Economic Council. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla). He was the Chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). He was the Chairman of the International Islamic University, Islamabad. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh Sugar and Foods Industries Corporation. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh National Shipping Corporation. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh National Insurance Corporation. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh National Vegetable Oil Industries Corporation also he was the Chairman of Bangladesh Cold Storage. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh Sugar Mills Corporation. He was the Chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh Oilseeds and Edible Oils Corporation. He was the Chairman of Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla). He was the Chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). He was the Chairman of Bangladesh National Shipping Corporation. He was the Chairman of the Bangladesh National Insurance Corporation. A.K.Khandker is a Bangladeshi politician who has served in various capacities, including as the Minister of Planning. In this role, he was responsible for formulating and implementing the country’s five-year development plans. He has also served as a parliament member and cabinet minister. In addition to his political career, Khandker is also a qualified lawyer and has worked as a professor of law at the University of Dhaka.
Heading Air Operations and Training Bengali Muktijuddhas:
A.K. Khandaker have a significant role in the 1971 war, Bangladesh liberation army was created in 1971 in response to the Bangladesh War of Independence. The army was created to better organize the rapidly growing Bangladesh liberation force. Colonel Muhammad Ataul Ghani Osmani was made the Commander-in-Chief, with the status of Cabinet Minister, and had his base in India. Lieutenant Colonel M. A. Rab was appointed as Chief of Staff with his base in Bangladesh. Group Captain Abdul Karim Khandker was appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff with his office in Kolkata and Major A. R. Chowdhury was selected as Assistant Chief of Staff. A.K Khandker, the senior Bengali air officer, was assigned the charge of overseeing and instructing the muktijuddhas (freedom fighters). He had frequent conversations on training tactics for the Freedom Fighters as well as overall operation plans with the senior officers of the Indian Eastern Command at Fort William, Kolkata.
Awards:
A.K. Khandker was awarded the Bangladesh Freedom Bir Uttam Honour in 2004
Death:
A.K. Khandker died on 1 January 2020 at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka at the age of 90. He was buried with full military Honours at the Banani Graveyard in Dhaka. In his lifetime he served the country in different capacities. And a recipient of many awards. He was ready to give his all for the country and yet even during his death he was humble and grateful to his country.
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এই ওয়েবসাইটের সমস্ত বিষয়বস্তু সরল বিশ্বাসে এবং শুধুমাত্র সাধারণ তথ্যের উদ্দেশ্যে প্রদান করা হয়েছে। একটি জীবনী তথ্যের সম্পূর্ণতা, নির্ভরযোগ্যতা বা সঠিকতা সম্পর্কে কোন গ্যারান্টি দেয় না। এই ওয়েবসাইটের উপাদানের ফলস্বরূপ আপনি যে কোনও পদক্ষেপ গ্রহণ করেন তা সম্পূর্ণরূপে আপনার নিজের ঝুঁকিতে। একটি জীবনী আমাদের ওয়েবসাইট ব্যবহার করার ফলে কোনো ক্ষতি বা ক্ষতির জন্য দায়ী নয়।