S.M Abul Kalam Azad (admiral)

Sheikh Muhammad Abul Kalam Azad (born April 30, 1967) is a two star admiral of Bangladesh Navy and the current Commander of Dhaka Naval Area (COMDHAKA). Prior this appoinment, he was high commissioner of Bangladesh to Maldives. He is former Commander of Bangladesh Navy Fleet.^[4] Earlier he held a range of salient appointments, namely Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority,^[5] Chairman of Mongla port Authority, Director of Naval Intelligence & Naval Administrative Authority Dhaka.^[6][7]

Rear Admiral S M Abul Kalam Azad (G), BSP, NGP, ndc, psc, BN
Azad in Malé (2023)
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Maldives
In office 6 April 2022[1] – 10 August 2024[2]
President	Mohammad Abdul Hamid Mohammed Shahabuddin
Prime Minister	Sheikh Hasina Muhammad Yunus (acting)
Preceded by	Mohammad Nazmul Hassan
Personal details
Born	(1967-04-30) April 30, 1967 (age 57) Kumarkhali, East Pakistan, Pakistan
Spouse	Begum Naomee Nahreen Azad
Children	2
Awards	Bisishtho Sheba Padak (BSP) Nou Gourobh Padak (NGP) UN Peacekeeping Medal, UNMEE UN Peacekeeping Medal, UNIFIL National Integrity Strategy Award Maritime Task Force Commander's Commendation Award, UNIFIL
Military service
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Branch/service	Bangladesh Navy
Years of service	1 July 1987 – present
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands	Commander Dhaka Naval Area Commander BN Fleet Chairman of Chattogram Port Authority Chairman of Mongla Port Authority Naval Administrative Authority Dhaka Director, Naval Intelligence Director, Drafting Authority Director General, Civil & Military Relations of AFD Director, Naval Training Director(Legal & Media Wing) of RAB Contingent Commander, BANCON-4, UNIFIL
Battles/wars	UNIKOM UNMEE UNIFIL
Police career
Unit	Rapid Action Battalion[3]
Allegiance	Bangladesh
Branch	Bangladesh Police
Service years	2006–2009
Rank	Director

Early life and education

Sheikh Muhammad Abul Kalam Azad was born into the Bengali Muslim noble Sheikh family of Mohendrapur village of Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia District on April 30, 1967.^[5] He is the youngest son of late Sheikh Osman Gani and Khadeza Begum. He is an alumnus of the first batch of Pabna Cadet College.

Military training

He joined Bangladesh Navy in January 1985 as an officer cadet and was commissioned in executive branch on July 1, 1987. During his career, Rear Admiral Azad went through various education and training courses both at home and abroad. Namely, he completed his International Sub Lieutenant Course (ISLC) in Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Devon, England and finished his initial staff course from Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London.^[8]

He went to Army Language School in Istanbul, Turkey in 1996 for a Turkish language course and also did a gunnery specialization course from the Naval Training Centre in Istanbul.

Admiral Azad successfully completed his command and staff course at the session 1999–2000 from Defence services command and staff college, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. And also is an alumnus of National Defence College, Mirpur. Furthermore, he completed an International humanitarian law course in Hyderabad, India. He also got the opportunity to attend The Executive Decision Making Course from Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, United States.

Military career

Being a successful gunner, Admiral Azad commanded almost all types of ships and establishments. His sea command includes two frigates,. BNS Umar Farooq and BNS Osman. The two frigates are the first ever frigate and the first ever guided missile frigate of the Bangladesh Navy. The admiral also commanded two OPVs, BNS Sangu and BNS Madhumati, and also one small patrol craft, BNS Tamjid. The Admiral's shore commands have included two major naval bases of the Bangladesh Navy, BNS Titumir & BNS Issa Khan.

His key staff appointment includes Staff Officer of Naval Training (SOT), Staff officer operations (SOO) of Commander Khulna Naval area and Officer-in- Charge of field intelligence staff (FIS), Khulna. Being a specialized gunnery officer the Admiral was also the officer in charge of Gunnery School, BNS Isa Khan. In 23 February 2022, he appointed as the high commissioner of Maldives.^[9]

References

1. "New High-Commissioner of Bangladesh presents his credentials to the President". The President's Office. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
2. "S M Abul Kalam Azad back to BD Navy - - Ministry of Public Administration" (PDF). Ministry of Public Administration. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
3. "Commander S M Abul Kalam Azad Director of Legal and Media told drug peddler dies in cutody". The Daily Star. 25 September 2009.
4. "Commander BN Fleet Rear Admiral S M Abul Kalam Azad". Daily Sun. 7 February 2021.
5. "Rear Admiral SM Abul Kalam Azad made new Chairman Chattogram port". The Asian Age. 25 March 2020.
6. "Mongla Port gets new Chairman". Daily Sun. 26 January 2020.
7. "Rear Admiral SM Abul Kalam Azad next High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Maldives". The Business Standard. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
8. "Azad, New Chairman Mongla Port". UNB. 26 January 2020.
9. "Rear Admiral Azad made high commissioner to Maldives". New Age. Retrieved 23 February 2022.