COLONEL Anisuzzaman was a brave soldier, a loving father, a devoted husband and a caring son. He lived to age 50 when his life was cut short by a hail of bullets from rebellious jawans during the bloody Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny on February 25, 2009. He died valiantly along with his courageous colleagues while doing his job serving his country.
Anis was born on August 16, 1959, in Naogaon, Rajshahi. He had a captivating personality with his handsome appearance and endearing nature. His childhood was spent mostly in Dhaka with periodic stints across the country as his bureaucrat father was transferred to various regions of the country, including stays abroad. He appeared for his SSC exam from St. Gregory鈥檚 High School and HSC from Notre Dame College. While attending Dhaka University in the management department, he wanted to serve his country and went to Bhatiary to attend the officers鈥� training programme at the Bangladesh Military Academy in Chattogram. He became a commissioned officer of the army in 1980. He loved his country dearly and served with dedication and exemplary leadership. His various postings included adjutant of the Military Academy, adjutant of East Bengal Regiment Centre, commanding officer, personal assistant to the chief of army, and deputation to the UN missions in Kuwait and Liberia. He was a graduate of the National Defence College, having passed the NDC course with distinction. He served in the Bangladesh Rifles several times during his illustrious career of over 29 years in the army, the last one being fatal when he was posted at the Rifles Headquarters in Pilkhana as director of operations and training. Prior to his last posting, he was sector commander of Mymensingh Sector, during which time his team succeeded in recovering a large cache of arms. For his gallant role in that operation, he was awarded the Rifles award, the highest honour for bravery in Bangladesh Rifles.
He married Nazma Zaman in 1991 and raised a loving family of two beautiful daughters and a son. He was very proud of his family and spent as much time as he could to tend to them as his demanding official responsibilities would allow him. His devotion to his mother was praiseworthy. After his father passed in early 2008, he moved his family to Dhaka to be with his ailing mother. While his posting was in Mymensingh, he was allowed to do his duty from Dhaka, which took quite a toll on him. He devoted himself to taking care of his mother and he did so out of his deep love and a sense of responsibility. Such was his devotion that when he was transferred to Chattogram, just prior to his death, he requested a posting in Dhaka or to be retired from the army so that he could be with his mother. Every child has a special bond with one鈥檚 mother, but Anis鈥� seemed special 鈥� loving, demanding and tumultuous. His mother knew this and called him her 鈥榮onar chhele鈥� (golden boy).
Anis was methodical and organised in his approach, a trait that he always had that was further refined from his military training. He was a champion debater and, like his father, was good at extempore speech. He won awards for his oratory during his student life and during his Military Academy days. He loved to travel and did so widely at home and abroad, visiting many countries of the world initially with his father and later with his family. He had a passion for video recording and recorded his visits and events with patience. On one of his trips to the US, he recorded the major landmarks of Washington DC and had to answer for his activities to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Terrorism Task Force. When he was interviewed by them along with his only brother, he replied in his characteristic bold manner, 鈥業 believe it is my right as a visitor to record my visit, wouldn鈥檛 you say?鈥� At such a jaw-dropping reply, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force officers were flabbergasted and admired his courage in facing the US law enforcement officers. He was loved dearly by his peers, colleagues and subordinates. He was kind, caring and enthralled all whom he met with his engaging presence. He was a magnetic figure and commanded respect and attention wherever he went. A patriot, he loved his country with passion. In one of his letters to his younger brother who was going through the process of gaining permanent residency in a foreign land, he mused 鈥樷�o matter what you do, never forget you are Made in Bangladesh鈥�. His cell phone ringtone was 鈥楢mi Banglai gaan gai, ami amar amikay chirodin ei Banglay khuje pai,鈥� which went silent forever on February 25, 2009.
May Allah forgive Anis and his fallen comrades鈥� and grant them Jannah.
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Md Ahsan-uz Zaman, a banker, is Colonel Anisuzzaman鈥檚 brother.