An important document of a crucial phase

Air Vice-Marshal A.G. Mahmud (retd) would have gone into oblivion like many other chiefs of Air Force or for that matter the Army or the Navy. For, this is the normal way of going into retirement by top brass in the armed forces unless someone is placed differently - positively or negatively - during his time in the period of being at helm. In other countries, chiefs of the armed forces are seldom remembered by the people, barring exceptional reasons. How many of us talk about the army or air chiefs of India or Pakistan unless they figure in discussions for completely other factors ? The Indian army chief  during Bangladeh's liberation war in 1971 or, for that matter, even their regional commanders were once the house-hold names in independent Bangladesh for obvious reasons. Pakistan chiefs of armed forces during Indo-Pakistan war in 1965 war were well known in those days. But again, those army chiefs of Pakistan, who trampled democracy and reigned for long as the supreme authority and acted against the interests of the erstwhile East Pakistan, are also familiar in the history - unquestionably with contempt and hatred of the people of today's Bangladesh.

Air Vice-Marshal A.G. Magmud is a quite familiar name in Bangladesh and beyond not for being the air chief of this country nor not even occupying the position of powerful deputy chief martial law administrator at a critically important time of our history. Frankly, he would have found a normal place in the not so important chapter of the history like most other chiefs of Bangladesh air force. We do remember chiefs of the air force like the first one in the independent Bangladesh - still an active person - Air Vice Marshal A.K. Khandkher (retd) and also Air Vice Marshal Khademul Bashar, who died in a tragic air accident in Dhaka while he was at the top of Air Force. Both are great freedom fighters. The list can be enlarged, but not much.

A.G. Mahmud, in a way found a bigger space in history, in my view, just because of one incident, which came by his way sheer by chance and this catapulted him to a position that is simply unimaginable. The hijacking of a Japanese passenger plane by the "Japanese Red Army" to Bangladesh and the handling of the enormously important and sensitive issue by Mahmud with extraordinary adroit and patience certainly is a saga that has no parallel in our history. The matter was a sensational international incident of great suspense, thrill and anxiety involving the lives of a large number of people and Mahmud led the team of negotiators for a solution of the highly complex crisis. It is no wonder that a person, who oversaw the whole episode, lasting a few days, drawing tremendous curiosity and concern both home and abroad should write a piece at least on this incident. He spent sleepless nights and carried out too difficult talks with hijackers as the whole world waited for the outcome. Mahmud has not failed us giving a description of what happened at that time for a few days that includes an unbelievable development like revolt in our air force killing several brilliant officers.

 Of course, his autobiography "My Destiny" covers the whole range of life beginning from his school days in Kolkata to his retirement from service and even the phase afterwards. He has reasons to write about several other phases of his life, including the miserable days in Pakistan following the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation and some key responsibilities that he shouldered on return to home later.

I had the occasion of covering the Japanese airline hijack episode in 1977 as a Reporter of the Bangladesh Sangbad Sanstha (BSS) and it is worth remembering that for the army of the media people, both from home and abroad, A.G. Mahmud was the most sought-after person in those turbulent days. Sadly, I missed the finale of the episode when I, as a member of a journalist delegation led by the late poet Shamsur Rahman, the then editor of the Dainik Bangla, had to leave the country. But what was interesting was the dramatic developments that were unfolding one after another at the airport even when we were taking a flight outside the country. The name of A.G. Mahmud had become famous by that time in abroad as well. Later, it used to be said that had he contested an election for any of the electoral seats in Japan, Mahmud would have won the seat as he had become a "Hero" in that country for saving the lives of so many innocent passengers.   

Mahmud is an apolitical person, who resisted temptation of joining politically importation positions, but remained loyal to whom he served. This is what is expected from the government servants but many of them these days, unfortunately, behave politically while remaining in service.

Mahmud is also known as an honest person. He describes how he moved from post to pillar for survival after the retirement. Needless to say, anyone knowing him would unhesitatingly describe Mahmud as a gentleman par excellence. But what is more important is that the "My Destiny" contains many events that are inextricably associated with the critically important phases of our national life. It is worth reading and can be useful in knowing many events in Bangladesh.

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My Destiny

By Air marshal A.G. Mahmud (retd)

Academic Press and Publishers Library

Price: 400.00/US$ 20.00

Pages: 180