Khan Mohammad Azad [a] (also known as KM Azad; born 15 October 1974)[1] is a Bangladesh Army colonel who served as the additional director general (operations) at the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) — the elite multiservice, anti-crime, and anti-terrorism unit of the Bangladesh Police.
Khan Mohammad Azad | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 October 1974 Barisal, Khulna Division, Bangladesh |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
Branch |  Bangladesh Army |
Service years | June 1995 – present |
Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Bangladesh Infantry Regiment |
| Commands |
|
| Known for | |
Conflicts | MONUSCO |
| Police career | |
| Unit | Rapid Action Battalion |
| Allegiance | Bangladesh |
| Branch |  Bangladesh Police |
| Service years | 2009–2022 |
| Rank | Additional Director General |
| Awards | Bangladesh Police Medal (Bravery) |
Career
editAzad joined the Bangladesh Army in 1995 with the 32nd BMA long course. In March 2009, he was appointed as a deputy director of RAB — a position he held until January 2012. In January 2012, Azad was appointed as Military Observer (MILOB) with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).[2]
He received his commission from the Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army through the Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) Long Course. He worked as the battalion commander at the Bangladesh Infantry Regimental Centre (BIR), in the position of colonel. Earlier in his career, he had served as operation wing director at RAB headquarters at Kurmitola and as commanding officer of the RAB-7 field unit in Chittagong.[3]
Azad re-joined RAB on deputation from the Bangladesh Army on 9 March 2021. He was subsequently appointed additional director general (operations) of the RAB on 16 March 2021, replacing Colonel Tofayel Mustafa Sorwar.[3][4] Colonel Kamrul Hasan replaced Azad as additional director general (operations) of the RAB in June 2022.[5]
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, Azad was detained and charged with crimes against humanity at the International Crimes Tribunal-1.[6]
U.S. sanctions
editOn 10 December 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added Azad to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under the Global Magnitsky Act for engaging in serious human rights abuses relating to his tenure at the RAB.[7][8][1]
References
editFootnotes
Citations
- 1 2 "Global Magnitsky Designations; North Korea Designations; Burma-related Designations; Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List Update". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ↑ Azad, KM. "Linkedin profile".
- 1 2 "Col KM Azad new additional DG of RAB". The Business Standard. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ↑ "Colonel KM Azad new RAB ADG (Operations)". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ↑ "Col Kamrul Hasan new Rab ADG (operations)". The Daily Star. 2022-06-13. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ↑ "Fifteen army officers taken into custody over crimes against humanity cases". Bonik Barta. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
- ↑ "AZAD, Khan Mohammad". sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov.
- ↑ "Treasury Sanctions Perpetrators of Serious Human Rights Abuse on International Human Rights Day". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 2022-01-13.