Flt Lt Matiur Rahman or Mati (Moti) as he is popularly called attained Shahadat on 20th August 1971 whilst trying to escape from the heart of the enemy's den in a T-33 trainer jet to join combat back in Bangladesh.
The Hero
Flt Lt Mohammed Matiur Rahman is one of the greatest heroes of Bangladesh.
- Joined PAF Public School Sargodha 1956
- Joined PAF Academy, Risalpur 1961 as Flight Cadet
- Commissioned into Pakistan Air Force in 1963 as Pilot Officer
- Completes Jet Conversion Training
- Completes Fighter Conversion Training
- Posted No.19 Squadron, Peshawar as Flying Officer
- Completes Fighter Leadership Training, Mauripur
- Sees combat against India 1965
- Awarded Sitara-e-Harb 1965 (Battle Star 1965)
- Promoted to Flight Lieutenant, July 1967
- Flies F-104 Starfighter
- Ejects from an F6 (MiG-19) when a flame out occurs during a mock Dogfight
- Completes course at Flying Instructors' School
- Becomes a QFI (Qualified Flying Instructor) and posted to PAF Academy, Risalpur
- Posted No.25 Top Gun Squadron, Sagodha
- Served HQ, Inter Sevices Intelligences (ISI)
- During Leave witnesses Sheikh Mujib's historic speech at Paltan Maidan 7th March 1971
- Led Mukti Bahini units against West Pakistan, March 1971
- Blew up railway bridge over Buriganga, April 1971
- Rejoined PAF as Jet Conversion Instructor in order to escape with an aircraft, May 1971
- Attains Shahadat whilst trying to fly away with an aircraft from deep inside enemy territory, August 1971
