Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, Bir Bikram, SBP, ndc, psc ( bn, চৌধুরী হাসান সারওয়ার্দী) is a retired
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
of Bangladesh Army and former commandant of
National Defence College. He previously served as
GOC of Army Training and Doctrine Command (
ARTDOC).
Early life
He was born in 1960
in
Sandwip Thana of
Chittagong
Chittagong ( /ˈtʃɪt əˌɡɒŋ/ ''chit-uh-gong''; ctg, চিটাং; bn, চিটাগং), officially Chattogram ( bn, চট্টগ্রাম), is the second-largest city in Bangladesh after Dhaka and third largest city in B ...
district.
Training and education
He was commissioned in the Corps of Infantry on 15 June 1980 with 2nd BMA Long Course.
Sarwardy is a graduate both from
Defence Services Command and Staff College and National Defence College.
He also obtained LLB degree, Master's degree in defense studies, Master's of security studies, Master's in political science, Master's in business administration and M Phil in national development and security studies. He has also been awarded PhD from Bangladesh University of Professionals.
Career
Sarwardy commanded an Infantry
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...
, a Rifle Battalion, a Rifle Sector and an Infantry
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.
Br ...
. He held appointments at both Division and Army Headquarters. He served as Battalion Commander at
Bangladesh Military Academy
Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) is the officers training institute for the officer cadets of Bangladesh Army. It is located in Bhatiary, near Chittagong Hill Tracts, in the Chittagong District of south-east Bangladesh, about 13 kilometres ...
, Director of Operations in former
Bangladesh Rifles and Director
Military Intelligence Directorate in the
Bangladesh Army. He was the Founding Member and Chief Instructor at
Non Commissioned Officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
Academy. He commanded a Bangladesh army delegation to
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees ...
on 24 July 2014 which was received by Major General Austin S.Miller.
He became a
major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
in April 2010. After his tenure as DMI (Director Military Intelligence), Sarwardy was appointed as the new DG of
Bangladesh Ansar
The Bangladesh Ansar (also known as the Ansar Bahini) is a paramilitary auxiliary force responsible for the preservation of internal security and law enforcement in Bangladesh. It is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government ...
and
Village Defence Party
The Village Defence Party (VDPs) is a law enforcement force in Bangladesh, organised in distinct units at the level of individual villages and urban towns. It is administered by the Home Ministry of the central Government of Bangladesh. Although do ...
Directorate on deputation from the army. Later he was appointed as Vice Chancellor of
Bangladesh University of Professionals
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) is the 31st public university of Bangladesh (according to University Grants Commission of Bangladesh), located in Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka. It is the first public
university of Bangladesh to be run by ...
. He served as Area Commander for Logistic Area Dhaka and Director General of
Special Security Force
The Special Security Force (SSF) is a Bangladeshi law enforcement agency that provides protection to government officials and foreign dignitaries.
Responsibility
The mission of the SSF is to provide physical security to the President and ...
, Prime Minister's Office. He served in the SSF from 27 November 2011 to 10 September 2012. He was commanding the 9th Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army. He was promoted to the rank of Lt. General and made the GOC of Army Training and Doctrine Command (
ARTDOC) at the
Mymensingh Cantonment
Mymensingh Cantonment (Officially known as Momenshahi Cantonment) was the headquarters of the 19th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army. Presently it has the headquarters of ARTDOC which consists of its Battle Group and all the training instit ...
. His last command was as a Commandant of
National Defense College (NDC) which lead to his retirement. He retired from his active service on 31st May, 2018.
UN Mission
He was the Founding Member and Pioneer Senior Instructor and Chief Instructor in Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT). He served as an instructor in Switzerland, United States and Nepal to conduct training on United Nations affairs. He also led a delegation of Bangladesh Army for UN training in Nepal in 1999. He served in Mozambique as
United Nations Military Observer and Chief of Operations of Bangladesh Contingent in Sierra Leone.
Recognition
Sarwardy received the gallantry award '
Bir Bikrom' for displaying courage during a
counter-insurgency
Counterinsurgency (COIN) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces". The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionar ...
operation in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts, in which he captured the enemy camp after he had been shot severely. Bir Bikrom bn, বীর বিক্রম, lit=Valiant hero is the third highest gallantry award in Bangladesh.
Hasan led the rescue operation of Tazreen Garments, Savar in December 2012. He led the rescue operation of
Rana Plaza
The 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse (also referred to as the 2013 Savar building collapse or the Collapse of Rana Plaza) was a structural failure that occurred on 24 April 2013 in the Savar Upazila of Dhaka District, Bangladesh, where an eigh ...
in
Savar. He received the "Senabahini Padak" (SBP) for his leadership in the rescue operation. Bangladesh broke the record for the largest human flag on 16 December 2013, also led by Hasan. On 26 March 2014 Bangladesh again made a new record by largest number of people singing national anthem at Dhaka led by Hasan Sarwardy. The two world record went down to Guinness Book. Sarwardy was awarded Bishisto Seba Padak (BSP) for these world records. Lt General Sarwardy headed the writing team of Bangladesh Defence Policy. For his outstanding contribution he was awarded Oshamanno Seba Padak (OSP) by nation. Sarwardy was instrumental and the founding head of most modern Computerized War Game Centre for Bangladesh Army. Sarwardy was an Adviser of Shornokishoree Network. For his outstanding performance the organization awarded him as "Shorno Manob" in 2018.
Personal life
He married twice. His first wife was Farzana Nigar. With whom he has a daughter and a son. After their divorce, he again married Media Personality Farzana Brownia on November, 2018.
He is a founding member of Bogra Golf Club. Bogra Golf Club (BGC) is situated inside
Majhira Cantonment
Majhira Cantonment, also known historically as Bogra Cantonment, is a cantonment about 10 kilometers south of Bogura city in northern Bangladesh.
It is the 11th Infantry Division headquarters. The Armoured Corps Center & School (ACC&S), and the ...
on the western side of Dhaka-Bogra highway. It is a 9-hole golf Course of par 36 covering approximately 52.05 acres of land.
Honours
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sarwardy, Chowdhury Hasan
Bangladeshi generals
Living people
Recipients of the Bir Bikrom
Bangladesh Army generals
1960 births
People from Sandwip Upazila
Vice-Chancellors of Bangladesh University of Professionals
Mukti Bahini personnel