Dhaka, Dec 20, (V7N) — Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) A.K. Khandaker, Bir Uttam, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Armed Forces during the Great Liberation War and former Chief of Air Staff, has passed away. He breathed his last at 10:35 am on Saturday due to complications related to old age. A towering figure in Bangladesh’s military and political history, his death marks the end of an era for the nation's founding generation of leaders.

A.K. Khandaker had a long and distinguished military career that began in September 1952, when he received his commission as a Pilot Officer in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Between 1952 and 1955, he served as a fighter pilot before transitioning into a role as a flying instructor. Over the next decade, he held several prestigious positions within the PAF, serving as a flight commander at the Flying Instructor School and the Jet Fighter Conversion Squadron. By the mid-1960s, he had risen to the rank of Squadron Commander and later served as the Officer Commanding of the Training Wing at the PAF Academy. Before the independence movement gained momentum, he served as the President of the PAF Planning Board and was appointed Second in Command of the PAF Base in Dhaka in 1969.

His most significant historical contribution came during the 1971 Liberation War, where he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Forces. He notably represented Bangladesh at the surrender ceremony of the Pakistani forces on December 16, 1971. For his extraordinary bravery and leadership during the war, he was honored with the 'Bir Uttam' gallantry award. In 2011, the government of Bangladesh further recognized his lifelong service by awarding him the 'Swadhinata Padak' (Independence Award), the highest civilian honor in the country.

Beyond his military service, A.K. Khandaker was active in public life and governance. He served as the first Chief of the Bangladesh Air Force following independence. Later, entering politics, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Pabna-2 (Bera-Sujanagar) constituency in the 2008 National Parliamentary Election and subsequently served as a cabinet minister. His passing has drawn widespread condolences from political leaders, military officials, and the general public, who remember him as a dedicated patriot and a pioneer of the country's aviation history.

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