Muhammad Ghulam Tawab

Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Ghulam Tawab (1 July 1930 – 23 February 1999) was the second chief of the air staff of Bangladesh Air Force who also served as deputy chief martial law administrator of Bangladesh with Ziaur Rahman and M. H. Khan from 1975 to 1977. During the nations war of independence Group Captain Tawab was barred from participating in the struggle due to internal politics spearheaded by A.K. Khandker. However, he remained in contact with General Osmani, and after 16 December 1971, Tawab immediately returned to Bangladesh and General M.A.G. Osmani appointed Tawab as his principal deputy with the rank of Air Commodore at the Bangladesh Forces interim Head Quarters in the older 14 Division HQ's office of Pakistan Army at Dhaka Cantoment. Within a short period of three months Tawab played his part in the creation and organization of Bangladesh Air Force. Though a short lived tenure, along with Osamni's resignation as Commander in Chief of Bangladesh Forces on April 21, 1972, Tawab had to leave the country due to political meddling of the Awami League administration. After Sheikh Mujib's assassination in August 1975, Tawab was immediately recalled from West Germany to active duty by Major Dalim upon then Wing Commander M. Hamidullah Khan's advice. Air Vice Marshall A. K. Khandker was promtly dismissed, and Tawab was reinstated to Bangladesh Air Force and appointed the Chief of Air Staff with the rank of Air Vice Marshall. During Tawabs command Bangladesh Air Force reemerged as an active department of armed forces of Bangladesh and received its accurate transformation and structuring. In less than two years, under Tawab's tremendous and dedication hard work Bangladesh Air Force Academy came into being. M. G. Tawab retired from Bangladesh Air Force in 1977 and returned to West Germany. He died in Munich on February 23, 1999 from prostate cancer after several years of heroic fight against this deadly affliction.