Muhammad Shahid Sarwar

Colonel Muhammad Shahid Sarwar Azam মোহাম্মদ শহীদ সারওযা়র আজম
Official Military Portrait
Sector Commander of Rajshahi Sector, Khagrachari Sector Bangladesh
In office 2003–2005
President	Iajuddin Ahmed
Deputy Sector Commander of United Nations Peacekeeping Forces Sierra Leone, West Africa
In office 2003–2004
President	Kofi Annan
Personal details
Born	December 31, 1952 (1952-12-31) (age 58)
Alma mater	Jhenaidah Cadet College, Jessore Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka Military Training Bangladesh Military Academy, Chittagong US Army School of Transportation, Fort Eustis Military Institute of Armour Technology, Beijing, China Indian Military Academy EME, Secunderabad, India
Occupation	Former Military officer (Colonel) and Engineer Engineering Director of Jamuna Future Park
Religion	Islam (Sunni)
Military service
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Service/branch	Bangladesh Armed Forces Army Head Quarters Bangladesh Rifles Bangladesh Army
Years of service	1976–2006 (30 Years)
Rank	Colonel
Commands	Rajshahi Sector 37th Rifles Battalion 39th Rifles Battalion Khagrachari Sector 29th Rifles Battalion United Nations Forces in Sierra Leone Bangladesh Army (Deputy Commander)
Awards	See All

For the first Nishan-e-Haider of Pakistan, see Raja Muhammad Sarwar.
For the British politician see Mohammad Sarwar.

Colonel Shahid Sarwar Azam FIEB, PEng, ( /ʃɑːhiːðsɑːrwɑːrɑːzɑːm/, Urdu: مآزآ رورس دحش محمد; Bangla: মোহাম্মদ শহীদ সারওযা়র আজম pronounced [shah-eed sar-war azam]; , born Muhammad Shahid Sarwar Azam Shah Jahan on 31^st December 1952, sometimes spelled Mohammad Shaheed Sarwar Azam) is a Bangladeshi military diplomat, engineer and commander of the Army of Bangladesh and the Border Guards. The first graduating class of Jhenidah Cadet College, he started as a military cadet at the age of 14 under the Pakistan Army a year before the War of 1965 and graduating before the Great Liberation War of 1971. Commissioned in the newly formed Bangladesh Army in the mid 1970s, he received training at the Bangladesh Military Academy following matriculation from the School of Engineering and Technology with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. In the 1980s, he was trained by the US Army in Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia, the People's Liberation Army in Beijing, China and the Military Academy in Hyderabad, India.^[1]

In his military career spanning three decades, he was in Deputy Command of the armed forces of the United Nations after the onset of the Sierra Leone Civil War in 2002 in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Republic Armed Forces and Police to provide support to the Special Court for Sierra Leone following the arrest of former Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leaders and Government minister on charges of war crimes, and enforce the Community Arms Collection and Development Program introduced by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with the local paramount chiefs where neighboring conflicts in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Liberia had resulted in an influx of refugees in the area.^[2] During the start of his service, Bangla was made an official language of Sierra Leone by President Tejan Kabbah in order to honour the Bangladeshi peacekeeping force from the United Nations stationed there.^[3] His younger brother, a Lieutenant Colonel of the Bangladesh Army also served at the United Nations Mission in Sudan in 2005.

Following his service to the UN in West Africa, he commanded the Rajshahi and Khagrachari fronts of the Bangladesh Border Guards (then known as the Bangladesh Rifles) during clashes with the Banga Sena (Bengal Army) and Indian BSF in the North West and during the aftermath of the Shanti Bahini (Peace Army) operations in the South East. He was the first military officer of the Engineering Corps to be appointed as a Bangladesh Rifles Sector Commander in the history of the Bangladesh military ^[4] and held the commands after the armed conflicts of 2001 but prior to the 2009 military massacre where all sector commanders, including both his incumbents were systematically shot and killed. In 2004, he held talks with the Border Security Force of India protesting killings of unarmed people at the border, and pushing indians in Bangladesh territory, smuggling, tresspassing, drugs and arms trafficing between India and the People's Republic of Bangladesh. The same year, he presented a list of Bangladeshi fugutives in hiding in India in exchange for Indians hiding in Bangladesh.^[5] In 2005, along with General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury outright rejected the Indian High Commission claim of setting up border structures close to the zero line according to a former treaty. He then led the discussion to resolve this issues within the Indo-Bangla Treaty of 1975 with the Indian Forces.^[6]

Military career

United Nations

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2005. It was created by the United Nations Security Council in October 1999 to help with the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord, an agreement intended to end the Sierra Leonean civil war. UNAMSIL expanded in size several times in 2000 and 2001. It concluded its mandate at the end of 2005,^[7] the Security Council having declared that its mission was complete.^[8] The mandate was notable for authorizing UNAMSIL to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence (albeit "within its capabilities and areas of deployment") - a return to a more proactive style of UN peacekeeping.^[9] Among others, its mission was to monitor adherence to the ceasefire in accordance with the ceasefire agreement^[10] (whose signing was witnessed by Jesse Jackson); and to provide support, as requested, to the elections, which are to be held in accordance with the present constitution of Sierra Leone^[11]

Bangladesh Force with DSC

It was later revised to guard weapons, ammunition and other military equipment collected from ex-combatants and to assists in their subsequent disposal or destruction^[12] Upon withdrawal, the remaining staff in Freetown were transferred to United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL).^[13]

Awarding UN medals to soldiers of the former Kingdom of Nepal

In early 2003 at Magburaka, as Deputy Commander of UNAMSIL's Sector Centre, Azam informed the Force Commander that in spite of the recent indictments by the Special Court for Sierra Leone of former Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leaders and a Government minister on war crimes charges, the current security situation in the area was "calm and stable."

He said there was no significant reaction to the indictments by local leaders, the army or the police but assured the Acting Force Commander that his troops would continue to monitor the situation. The peacekeepers are also providing security and transport to the staff of the Court as they continue their investigations. The Acting Force Commander was also briefed on the Community Arms Collection and Development Programme recently introduced under the supervision of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in collaboration with local paramount chiefs. Under the program, local communities are encouraged to hand over weapons at designated dropping points, particularly shotguns, that were not covered under the recent disarmament process.

Colonel Azam commended the cooperation his troops were getting from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Police who are "quite active in maintaining law and order." According to Azam, conflicts in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Liberia have resulted in an influx of refugees in the sector. In his statement, the Force Commander commended the sector commander for the good work his troops were carrying out in the sector, noting that communities were gradually accepting the authority of local security agencies deployed throughout the sector.^[14]

Azam's service ended in December 2003, and one of the two planes carrying the forces from Freetown, Sierra Leone crashed in Democratic Republic of the Congo killing 128 people and 15 peacekeepers from Bangladesh.^[15][16][17] Azam and other commanders boarded the second plane as the first had problems while on the ground.

Bangladesh Rifles (Border Guards)

The Bangladesh–India border, or more specially the Radcliffe Line of 1947 put strains on the Sovereign governments of Bangladesh and India since the former’s independence in 1971. Notable conflicts included India-Bangladesh Muhurichar Island Border Conflicts of 1975, 1979 and 1985. This escalated to armed conflicts between the two militaries in early 2000s.^[18] The 2001 Indian–Bangladeshi border conflict was a brief armed conflict in April 2001 between India and Bangladesh over the poorly marked international border between the countries. As of April 2011^[update], it was the first and only such major conflict between the two countries who have maintained friendly relations since the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The Partition of Bengal in 1947 left a poorly demarcated international border between India and Bangladesh (then-East Pakistan). Ownership of several villages on both sides of the de facto border were disputed and claimed by both countries. The dispute over the demarcation of the Indo-Bangladeshi border worsened due to the existence of over 190 enclaves.

Young Azam (then a captain) as an aide to the President and First Lady.

One of the disputed areas was a small sliver of land near the village of Pyrdiwah which the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) had occupied since the 1971 liberation of Bangladesh. The village was one of the Indian exclaves near the border of Bangladesh with the Indian state of Meghalaya.^[19][20] Bangladesh claimed that the village was within its territory.^[21] Five battalions of the 19th division of the Bangladesh Army, with additional personnel from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), attacked the positions of India's Border Security Force at Pyrdiwah at 01:00 hours on 16 April 2001.^[22] India claimed that Bangladeshi troops overran and occupied the village, which was near the town of Dauki, and that Bangladeshi forces were holding more than 20 Indian soldiers hostage.^[23] However, Bangladesh insisted that Indian forces launched an early-morning attack on their posts in the frontier district of Kurigram, which lay on the border with the Indian state of Assam, on the morning of 16 April.^[23] Indian forces eventually responded but failed to retake the village. The combat remained limited to the border troops of the respective nations, though mortars were used in addition to automatic weapons fire. Between 10,000 and 20,000 villagers living in the area fled the fighting, with at least 17 suffering wounds. Several villages were destroyed or heavily damaged in the fighting. 81 Indian and 2 Bangladeshi troops died during the conflict according to India, although Bangladesh claimed that 89 Indian soldiers were killed with 3 Bangladeshi fatalities.^[20][23] Top Indian border security sources claimed that the BDR personnel had retreated in the Meghalaya sector, while in the Assam sector, the Indian BSF had vacated positions seized from Bangladesh.^[24] Fresh clashes erupted along the India–Bangladesh border just hours after both sides voiced regret for the recent killings, but by midnight of 20 April firing had again stopped. An article reported that 6,000 Indian civilians had fled the region, and Indian government officials were attempting to convince villagers to return to their homes.^[21] The Indian BSF agreed to take back bodies of five of its soldiers at Rowmari sector, whilst the other 11-17 were classified as 'missing'. Bangladesh later agreed to return the dead Indian soldiers the next day.^[24] Upon examining the bodies of the dead personnel, India alleged that the BSF men were tortured before being shot dead.^[25][26] Three Bangladeshi soldiers were also killed: two during combat and another who died of wounds sustained during operations.

April 2001, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke to then-Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and agreed to order a high-level investigation over the incident, especially the torture of BSF men.^[27] The two leaders spoke again a month later, and Hasina "expressed regrets" over the border skirmish.^[28] Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Raminder Jassal reported that both India and Bangladesh would improve diplomatic channels and promised to exercise restraint in the future.^[21] India and Bangladesh started talks in March 2002 to resolve their border disputes.^[29] By July 2001, the two sides established joint working groups to establish the un-demarcated sections of the border.^[20] Officially, Bangladesh denied it had initiated hostilities.^[24] This was the first armed conflict between India and Bangladesh, two nations that had maintained friendly relations since Bengali independence in 1971.^[30] The end of the brief conflict saw an upsurge of nationalism in Bangladesh.^[29] In parliamentary elections, the four-party right-wing alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh won a majority of 196 seats out of 300.

Reviewing the dead soldiers of BGB at the Indian-Bangladesh Border

Bangladesh ordered no courts martial, suspensions, or transfers of any local commanders.^[31] Both sides desisted from any further hostilities and began border talks to discuss disputes along their 4,000-kilometre (2,500 mi) border.^[32] Relations were cooled down shortly afterwards. India later began constructing a fence along the entire length of the international border with Bangladesh.^[33][34] India is still in the process of constructing the Indo-Bangladeshi barrier.^[35] Bangladesh protested that construction of the fence within 150 yards of the border was a gross violation of the Indo-Bangladeshi Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace.^[36] The Bangladesh government also protested frequent BSF incursions into Bangladesh, and shootings which resulted in the deaths of Bangladeshi citizens inside Bangladeshi territory.^[37] In a news conference in August 2008, it was stated that 59 people had been killed (34 Bangladeshis, 21 Indians, rest unidentified) trying to cross the border illegally during the prior six months.^[38][39]

2005 Border Accord signing by members of Bangladesh Border Guards and Indian paramilitary counterpart Border Security Force

The Banga Sena, (translated as the Bengal Army) a separatist^[40] Hindu organization advocated formation of a separate homeland for Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh.^[41] The group is led by Kalidas Baidya.^[40]

Major General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Director General of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), in a talk with the Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) Ajay Raj Sharma in 2004 said that the extremist group Banga Sena was carrying out terrorist and secessionist activities against Bangladesh from its bases in the Indian state of West Bengal.^[42] Khodeza Begum in an article in the Global Politician accused India of helping to organize the Banga Sena.^[43] In March 2006, a senior official of the home ministry of Bangladesh expressed concern over the anti-Bangladesh activities by the Banga Sena. Regarding this he added that Bangladesh wants a peaceful border with neighboring India and the situation has vastly improved following coordinated border patrolling by the both countries.^[44] A Bangladeshi official stated that the organization is a "threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh".^[45]

More than 400 members of the Banga Sena were arrested in India on February 18, 2003 for trying to cross over into Bangladesh from the district of North 24 Parganas in southern West Bengal. According to police sources, activists belonging to the organization began gathering at the Indo-Bangladesh border at Halencha, North 24 Parganas in the jurisdiction of the Bagda police station since morning that day.^[41]

Muhammad Azam with General Moeen U Ahmed

In January 2004, the director general of the Bangladesh Rifles gave a list of the camps of the remaining Shanti Bahni elements in the North-East Indian states of Tripura and Assam and in adjoining Indian provinces to the director general of the Border Security Force. The list documented that the Banga Sena, along with several other groups, carried out communal tension and separatist activities against Bangladesh from West Bengal. Indian Foreign Secretary said that India will cooperate in tackling the Banga Sena and other insurgent groups.^[46] On September 2007, the representatives of two NGOs, Diphu Citizen Peace Forum and Karbi Human Rights Watch, in the Karbi Anglong District of Assam said that the Banga Sena was involved in extortion and it could pose a threat to the peace in the region.^[47] Regarding the activities of the Banga Sena, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury made it clear that his country will not tolerate any statement or move against its territory or sovereignty.^[48] The All India Minority Forum, an organization for religious minorities in India, also expressed concern over this organization.^[49]

From 2004-2005 he led the Bangladesh Border Guards with talks against the Indian Border Security Force and outright rejected the interpretation of Delhi, Indian capital on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh on the former's translation of the Indo-Bangladesh border treaty of 1975.^[50][51] In it he protested the record amount of killings of innocent citizens by Indian military, border tension, smuggling, trespassing, drugs and arms trafficking.^[52][53] A large amount of smuggling occurs in the border area. Livestock, Food items and drugs are smuggled from India into Bangladesh. Bangladeshi immigrants also cross the border to find jobs in India. India's BSF maintains a shoot-at-sight policy for any illegal entrants. Each year hundreds of Bangladeshis lose their lives at the hand of BSF while trying to cross the border. The border has also witnessed occasional skirmishes between BSF and BDR such as in 2001.

Muhammad Azam (second from right) with former military ruler and President of Bangladesh, Lt General Hussain Muhammad Ershad (right) at a meeting in the 1980s

BSF has often been accused by Bangladesh government of incursions into Bangladesh territory, and indiscriminate shooting of civilians along the India-Bangladesh borders. This was in retaliation to massive illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India, for which the Indo-Bangladeshi Barrier is presently underway^[37] In a news conference in August 2008, Indian BSF officials admitted that they killed 59 illegals (34 Bangladeshis, 21 Indians, rest unidentified) who were trying to cross the border during the prior six months.^[38] Bangladeshi media accused the BSF of abducting 5 Bangladeshi children, aged between 8 and 15, from the Haripur Upazila in Thakurgaon District of Bangladesh, in 2010. The children were setting fishing nets near the border.^[54] In 2010, Human Rights Watch has accused the Border Security Force of indiscriminate killings. BSF allegedly killed a 15 years old Bangladeshi girl on 7 January 2011 while she and her father was climbing the Indo-Bangladeshi barrier using a ladder.^[55]

In 2010, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a 81 page report which detailed hundreds of abuses by the BSF. The report was compiled from interviews with victims of BSF shootings, witnesses and members of the BSF and its Bangladeshi counterpart. The report alleged that over 900 Bangladeshi citizens have been killed in the first decade of the 21st century by the BSF. According to HRW, while most of them were killed when they crossed into Indian territory for indulging in cattle rustling or other smuggling activities, many were also killed in BSF's indiscriminate firing across the border.^[56]

Azam (cadet) was sent to Jhenidah Cadet College, a military boarding school of the Pakistan Army at the age of 14, by his father. He was the first graduating class of the academy in 1968.^[57] As a cadet he was interrogated by the occupying Pakistani Army during the Great Liberation War of 1971. On March 7, 1971, he viewed more than ten thousand Bengali demonstrators forcing their way into the Jhenidah Cadet College in demonstration.^[58] His school principal, Lt Col Monzurur Rahman (Shahid), and three teachers were shot and killed.^[59] He was later trained by the US Army (1980) at Fort Eustis, the Indian Army at Secundarabad (1988–1989; from where he holds a postgraduate degree) and the Chinese Army in Beijing (1984–1985), in addition, he received training as a pilot.

He is the first and incumbent Director of Engineering for Jamuna Future Park (the largest mall in Asia).^[60] He is a member of the Singranatore Family, a brother-in-law to MM Rahmatullah through his elder sister Gole Afroz (namesake of Gole Afroz College), a brother-in-law of author and architect Saleh Uddin through marriage and hence a Co-brother of Major Raihanul Abedin.^[61]

Medals and Decorations

Medals appearing from left to right are described below.

• 1999: Gurnijhar Padak (Cyclone Relief Medal)

• 1991: Sangsad Padak (1991 National Election Medal)

• 1996: Sangsad Padak (1996 National Election Medal)

• 1996: Pochishtomo Padak (Silver Jubilee Medal)

• 2006: Tritio Jesthatha Padak (25 Years Service)

• 1996: Ditiyo Jesthatha Padak (Two Decade Service)

• 1986: Prothom Jesthatha Padak (Decade Service)

• 1997: BDR Padak (Rifles Medal)

• 2004: UN Medal (UNAMSIL)

Rank and Titles

• 1952-1966: Sahibzada Muhammad Shahid Sarwar Azam Shah Jahan
• 1966-1970: Cadet Muhammad Sarwar Azam (Cadet at JCC)
• 1970-1975: Gentleman Cadet M S Azam (Training at BUET)
• 1976-1977: Officer Cadet Muhammad Sarwar Azam, at Bangladesh Military Academy
• 1977-1978: Lieutenant Muhammad Sarwar Azam (Commissioned)
• 1978-1981: Captain Muhammad Sarwar Azam
• 1981-1989: Major Muhammad Sarwar Azam
• 1990-2001: Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Sarwar Azam
• 2001-2006: Colonel Muhammad Sarwar Azam
• 2006-  : Colonel Sahibzada Muhammad Sarwar Azam Retd

See also

• Bangladesh–India border
• 2001 Indian–Bangladeshi border conflict

Further Reading

• BDR-BSF meet successful: Relief in Khagrachhari, Chapai Nawabganj, Panchagarh
• UN Press Breifing: Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) 12 Sep 2003

References

1. ^ The Daily Observer BDR, BSF agree to defuse border tension: Indo-Bangla border treaty-1975 17th March , 2005
2. ^ ReliefWeb Article (2003) UNAMSIL ACTING FORCE COMMANDER VISITS TONKOLILI AND BOMBALI DISTRICTS TO REVIEW SECURITY SITUATION UN Press Briefing 21 March 2003
3. ^ "Sierra Leone makes Bengali official language". Daily Times. 2002-12-29. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-12-2002_pg9_6. Retrieved 2006-11-17. 
4. ^ RAOWA: Retired Army Officers Welfare Association Dhaka 2010 January
5. ^ BDR–BSF border confce held May 26 2004
6. ^ Border guidelines : Dhaka rejects Delhis interpretation March 17 2005
7. ^ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1610 S-RES-1610(2005) page 1 in 2005 (retrieved 2007-11-13)
8. ^ United Nations Security Council Verbotim Report meeting 5334 page 2, Mr. Mwakawago on 20 December 2005 (retrieved 2007-11-13)
9. ^ United Nations Security Council Verbotim Report meeting 4099 page 6, Mr. Fowler Canada on 7 February 2000 (retrieved 2007-11-13)
10. ^ United Nations Security Council Document 585 S-1999-585 on 18 May 1999 (retrieved 2007-11-13)
11. ^ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1270 S-RES-1270(1999) page 2 on 22 October 1999 (retrieved 2007-11-13)
12. ^ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1289 S-RES-1289(2000) page 3 on 7 February 2000 (retrieved 2007-11-13)
13. ^ United Nations Security Council Verbotim Report meeting 5334 page 2, Mr. Mwakawago on 20 December 2005 (retrieved 2007-11-13)
14. ^ UNAMSIL ACTING FORCE COMMANDER VISITS TONKOLILI AND BOMBALI DISTRICTS TO REVIEW SECURITY SITUATION UN Press Briefing 21 March 2003
15. ^ U.N. Staff Among Victims of Benin Crash0
16. ^ UN troops killed in Benin crash, nearly 140 killed
17. ^ United Nations UN Crash
18. ^ India-Bangladesh Border Conflict
19. ^ Outsourcing to India - By Mark Kobayashi-Hillary
20. ^ ^{a b c} The Europa World Year Book 2003 - By Ed 2002 43rd, Taylor & Francis Group
21. ^ ^{a b c} South Asia Nuclear Dialogue, nautilus.org
22. ^ Indian foreign policy and its neighbours - By Jyotindra Nath Dixit
23. ^ ^{a b c} BBC South Asia
24. ^ ^{a b c} Guns fall silent on border, Tribune India
25. ^ "'Criminal adventurism' must not go unpunished: Jaswant". Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. http://in.rediff.com/news/2001/apr/23ls1.htm. Retrieved 12 July 2009. 
26. ^ BSF men tortured, then shot dead
27. ^ "A brush with Bangladesh HAROON HABIB in Dhaka". Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. http://hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1810/18100280.htm. Retrieved 12 July 2009. 
28. ^ Nishanthi Priyangika. "India-Bangladesh border still tense after worst clash in 30 years". Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/may2001/bang-m21.shtml. Retrieved 12 July 2009. 
29. ^ ^{a b} [1] Lee, R. The History Guy: India-Bangladesh Border Conflict (2001).
30. ^ India accuses Bangladesh of war crimes, CNN.com
31. ^ Bangladesh used us as a punching bag, mea.giv.in
32. ^ Bangladesh and India begin border talks, BBC
33. ^ Livelihoods on line at Indian border, BBC
34. ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030217/edit.htm#3Problem of Bangladeshi migrants
35. ^ Nelson, Dean (13 November 2005). "India fences off Bangladesh to keep out Muslim terror". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article589627.ece. Retrieved 11 July 2007. 
36. ^ 3 killed in Bangladesh-Indian border guards cross fire, People's Daily Online, China, 17 April 2005.
37. ^ ^{a b} Staff Correspondent (24 April 2005). "Border tension flares as BSF kills 2 more". The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/04/24/d5042401022.htm. Retrieved 19 April 2007. 
38. ^ ^{a b} India says 59 killed over last six months on Bangladesh border, Reuters, 24 August 2008.
39. ^ Three Bangladeshis killed in ‘drunk shooting’ by BSF man, Staff Correspondent, Daily Star, 17 November 2008.
40. ^ ^{a b} Seema Guha (2004-01-07). "Dhaka seeks proof, Delhi readies maps". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040107/asp/nation/story_2760337.asp. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
41. ^ ^{a b} "400 Banga Sena activists held at Bangla border". Indiainfo.com. 2003-02-18. http://news.indiainfo.com/2003/02/18/18held.html. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
42. ^ Pallab Bhattacharya (2004-01-11). "BDR, BSF agree to bust camps". The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/01/11/d40111011212.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
43. ^ Khodeza Begum (2006-07-14). "Indian move to establish United India through United Bengal". Global Politician. http://www.globalpolitician.com/21944-india. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
44. ^ "Khaleda-Manmohan meet on March 21 to initiate new era". The Daily Star. 2006-03-15. http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/03/15/d60315060170.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
45. ^ "Khaleda’s India visit to boost bilateral ties". 2006-03-15. http://www.newsnetwork-bd.com/UI/Public/NewsDetail.php?LogID=11409. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
46. ^ "India to help tackle anti-Bangladesh insurgents". 2004-03-12. http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidType=NAT&hidRecord=0000000000000000003363. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
47. ^ "Organisations appeal for public support for peace in Karbi Anglong". Oneindia Mobile. 2007-09-03. http://news.oneindia.mobi/2007/09/03/429222.html. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
48. ^ "Bangladesh ready to evacuate citizens from Middle East". Gulfnews.com. 2003-02-21. http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/03/02/21/78157.html. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
49. ^ "Minority forum flays PM's remarks on Ayodhya". The Times of India. 2003-02-22. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/38298464.cms. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
50. ^ News from Bangladesh BDR, BSF for peace along borders February 04 2005
51. ^ News from Bangladesh BDR–BSF border conference held May 26, 2004
52. ^ News Network Bangladesh Border guideline; Dhaka rejects Delhis interpretation Diplomatic Correspondent
53. ^ News from Bangladesh BDR, BSF talk bilateral border issues February 03 2005
54. ^ "BSF abducts 5 children from border". The Daily Star. 24 July 2010. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=148029. Retrieved 24 July 2010. 
55. ^ http://blog.akmnahid.com/countries/bangladesh/bsf-killed-innocent-bangladeshi-girl-117.html
56. ^ "India/Bangladesh: Indiscriminate Killings, Abuse by Border Officers". Human Rights Watch. http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/06/indiabangladesh-indiscriminate-killings-abuse-border-officers. Retrieved 21 January 2011. 
57. ^ pg 46 of JEXCA publication 2007
58. ^ Qutubuddin Aziz (1974) :Blood and Tears, ch 24, pg 176, United Press of Pakistan
59. ^ pg 466 of JEXCA publication 2007
60. ^ Jamuna Builders LTD 31st March (10033101)
61. ^ GuleAfrozCollege Prathista Porichiti 1996 page 30

External Links

• Official Website Ministry of Defense, People's Republic of Bangladesh.
• Official Website The Bangladesh Army
• Offical Website Border Guards Bangladesh

Persondata
Name	Sarwar, Muhammad Shahid
Alternative names
Short description	Bangladeshi military personnel
Date of birth	31 December 1952
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death