Khalilur Rahman was a major general of Bangladesh Army and former director general of Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) and former Chief of Defence Staff.{{cite news |title=Dalim goes on air|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/dalim-goes-air-1270015|work=The Daily Star|access-date=20 November 2016|date=15 August 2016}}

Early life and education

Khalilur Rahman was born on 1 January 1927 in Nandina, Jamalpur of Bengal Presidency then British India (now in Mymensingh, Bangladesh). He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Presidency College, Calcutta. He later joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1948 and commissioned in East Bengal Regiment in 1950. He was graduated from Staff College, Camberley.

Military career

=Pakistan Army=

He had started his career by joining the Pakistan Army in 1948. He was commissioned in the Pakistan Army on 26 August 1950 and was posted to the East Bengal Regimental Centre.Later in 1952 he was posted to 1st East Bengal Regiment which was in Jessore Cantonment.At the time of his posting in the 1st East Bengal Regiment Lieutenant Colonel M.A.G. Osmani was the Commanding Officer. He served as the general staff officer second grade at the CENTO Headquarters in Ankara, Turkey. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 22 September 1966 and became the CO of 5th East Bengal Regiment. On 16 May 1970, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and posted to I Corps headquarters.https://songramernotebook.com/archives/43241 Later, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier on 29 May 1971. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, he was posted in General Headquarters as a Director of Defense Security Force.

=Bangladesh Army=

He repatriated to Bangladesh in 1973 after its independence in 1971.{{cite news |title=The Bengali brigadier in Pakistan's army|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-9969|work=The Daily Star|access-date=20 November 2016|date=3 November 2007}} He was the Director General of Bangladesh Rifles from 22 February 1974 to 31 October 1975.{{cite web|title=Border Guard Bangladesh|url=http://www.bgb.gov.bd/index.php/bgb/page/list_of_former_director_generals/26|website=www.bgb.gov.bd|access-date=20 November 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126185936/http://www.bgb.gov.bd/index.php/bgb/page/list_of_former_director_generals/26|archivedate=26 November 2016}} On 15 May 1975, he was promoted to the rank of Major General. He was the director general during the Assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the President of Bangladesh.{{cite news |title=BNP's rejoinder and our reply|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/bnps-rejoinder-and-our-reply-130954|work=The Daily Star|access-date=20 November 2016|date=23 August 2015}} He later stated that the BDR was ready for action but he chose not to follow through after he heard the three service chiefs pledge their loyalty on Bangladesh Radio.{{Cite web |date=1998-01-27 |title=Armed forces' allegiance to govt stopped BDR from taking action |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/armed-forces-allegiance-to-govt-stopped-bdr-from-taking-action |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}

He pledged allegiance to the new government on Bangladesh Radio after the assassination.{{cite news |title=Shock, surprise unfolded|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/shock-surprise-unfolded-127147|work=The Daily Star|access-date=20 November 2016|date=15 August 2015}} He became Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), whose position and power was above the chiefs of the three defence forces after 15 August coup.{{Cite book |last=Mascarenhas |first=Anthony |title=Bangladesh: a legacy of blood |date=1986 |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |isbn=978-0-340-39420-5 |location=London}}

After the 7 November coup, he prevented General Zia from being the Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA), by arguing that that position should lie with President Sayem. This hurt his relationship with Zia as it delayed Zia's plan of eventually taking over power.

Political career

After retirement from Army, Khalilur Rahman joined Bangladesh Awami League. He contested in 1986 Parliamentary Elections as candidate of Awami League from Jamalpur-5. He won the election and was elected to the parliament. In 1991, he contested from the same constituency but lost the election to Sirajul Huq. In 1996, he again participated in the election but this time as a candidate of Gono Forum. He lost the election to Rezaul Karim Hira.