Mohammad Jahangir Alam

Not to be confused with Md Zahangir Alam or Md. Jahangir Alam.
Mohammad Jahangir Alam
Jahangir while serving in RAB
Born (1973-10-19) 19 October 1973
Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Army
Service years1993 - Present
RankBrigadier General
UnitEast Bengal Regiment
Commands
ConflictsUNIKOM
Police career
UnitRapid Action Battalion
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Police
Service years2018–2019
RankAdditional Director General
AwardsBPM (bar)

Mohammad Jahangir Alam is a one star officer of Bangladesh Army and former commander of the President Guard Regiment.[1][2][3] Alam served in the Rapid Action Battalion and became one of seven officers of the force to be sanctioned by the United States for violation of human rights for his involvement in Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Bangladesh. Alam is also one of the officers detained by the Bangladesh Army because of crimes against humanity by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh after the July Revolution and is currently in custody pending legal proceedings.[4][5]

Early life and education

Alam was born on 10 October 1973 in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh.[6] He enlisted to Bangladesh Military Academy on 1991 and was commissioned in the East Bengal Regiment on 19 December 1993.[7][8] He completed his master's degree in defense studies from the Bangladesh University of Professionals. Alam is a graduate of Defence Services Command and Staff College and the Armed Forces War College and furthermore trained in counter terrorist tactics in the United States.[9][10][11]

Military career

Alam commanded one infantry battalion of 17th Infantry Division[12] and served as a platoon commander in the Bangladesh Military Academy.[10] 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.[13] He served on deputation with the Kuwaiti Army for three years.[14] 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.[11] Alam was appointed the additional director general (operations) at the Rapid Action Battalion on 17 September 2018 replacing Colonel Mohammad Anwar Latif Khan.[11][15] He was appointed on deputation from Bangladesh Army.[16] He oversaw special security arrangements for the Pahela Baishakh celebrations in 2019.[17]

Alam left the additional director general (operations) at the Rapid Action Battalion on 27 June 2019 and was replaced by Colonel Tofayel Mustafa Sorwar.[18] Alam was promoted to brigadier general and posted to 203rd Infantry Brigade.[19]He was later appointed the commander of the President Guard Regiment.[20] Alam returned to 19th Infantry Division as commander of 309th Infantry Brigade as of December 2024.[21]

Controversy

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.[22][23][24] He was one of seven serving and former officers of RAB to be sanction by the United States.[25] 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.[26] He was asked by Prime Bank Limited to close his account at the bank, which had been suspended, due to the U.S. sanctions. He was charged with crimes against humanity in October 2025 after the overthrow of Fifth Hasina ministry and taken into custody by the Bangladesh Army. He was one of 15 officers detained by the army along with Major general Sheikh Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, Brigadier general Tofayel Mustafa Sorwar and Colonel Mohammad Anwar Latif Khan.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Int'l standards to be ensured for armed forces: PM". New Age. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  2. ^ "Work to retain the glory of PGR: President". UNB. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  3. ^ "Three ministers tasked to oversee US sanctions on RAB, its officials". The Business Standard. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  4. ^ "US imposes sanctions on RAB, 7 individuals". UNB. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  5. ^ "Tribunal sends 15 army officers to jail". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  6. ^ র‌্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর আলম (in Bengali). Retrieved 2022-02-02. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |workbsite= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "Global Magnitsky Designations; North Korea Designations; Burma-related Designations; Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List Update". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. ^ "Col Jahangir new ADG of RAB". Daily Sun. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  9. ^ র‌্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  10. ^ a b র‍্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক হলেন কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর আলম | কালের কণ্ঠ. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  11. ^ a b c "Col Jahangir new ADG of RAB". Daily Sun. September 2018. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  12. ^ জাহাঙ্গীর আলম র‌্যাবের নতুন অতিরিক্ত মহাপরিচালক. Samakal (in Bengali). Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  13. ^ "Bangladesh Disaster Response Exercise draws to a successful close". United States Army. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  14. ^ "র‌্যাবের নতুন এডিজি হলেন কর্নেল জাহাঙ্গীর আলম". Barta24. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  15. ^ "United States Sanctions Bangladesh's RAB for 'Serious Human Rights Abuse'". Benar News. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  16. ^ "US sanctions on RAB: Key facts and analysis". Netra News. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  17. ^ "RAB's special security around Pahela Baishakh". Daily Bangladesh. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  18. ^ "Treasury Sanctions Perpetrators of Serious Human Rights Abuse on International Human Rights Day". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  19. ^ "Khagrachari Cantonment Public School & College". kcpsc.edu.bd. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  20. ^ "PM urges PGR for highest professional sacrifice". Daily Bangladesh. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  21. ^ "Ghatail Cantonment Public School & College". Ghatail Cantonment Public School & College. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  22. ^ "ALAM, Mohammad Jahangir". sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov.
  23. ^ "US Imposes Sanctions on Top Officials of Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion Over Human Rights Abuse". The Wire. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  24. ^ "US Sanctions on Bangladesh's RAB: What Happened? What's Next?". cgs-bd.com. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  25. ^ "US sanctions RAB, seven officials for 'human rights abuse'". bdnews24.com. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Sanction on RAB: Bangladesh summons US envoy". jagonews24.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  27. ^ "Prime Bank asks former RAB official sanctioned by the US to close account". Prothom Alo. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
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