Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy

Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy (born 2 February 1960) is a retired lieutenant general of the Bangladesh Army and former commandant of the National Defence College. He previously served as GOC of Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC).

Early life and education He was born in 1960 in Sandwip Thana of Chittagong district. He was commissioned in the East Bengal Regiment on 15 June 1980 with the 2nd BMA Long Course. Sarwardy is a graduate of both the Defence Services Command and Staff College and the National Defence College.

He became a major general in April 2010. After his tenure as DMI (Director Military Intelligence), Sarwardy was appointed DG of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party Directorate on deputation from the army. Later he was appointed vice chancellor of Bangladesh University of Professionals. He served as area commander for Logistic Area Dhaka and director general of the Special Security Force, Prime Minister's Office. He served in the SSF from 27 November 2011 to 10 September 2012. He commanded the 9th Infantry Division of the Bangladesh Army. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and made the GOC of Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC) at the Mymensingh Cantonment. His last command was as a commandant of the National Defense College (NDC), which led to his retirement from active service on 31 May 2018.

UN missions He was the founding member and pioneer senior instructor and chief instructor in the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT). He served as an instructor in Switzerland, the United States, and Nepal to conduct training on United Nations affairs. He also led a delegation of the Bangladesh Army for UN training in Nepal in 1999. He served in Mozambique as a United Nations Military Observer and chief of operations of the Bangladesh Contingent in Sierra Leone.

Sarwardy joined the Liberal Democratic Party in April 2025.

Recognition

Sarwardy received the gallantry award Bir Bikrom for displaying courage during a counter-insurgency operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, in which he captured the enemy camp after he had been shot severely. Bir Bikrom is the third highest gallantry award in Bangladesh. Hasan led the rescue operation at Tazreen Garments, Savar, in December 2012. He led the rescue operation of Rana Plaza in Savar. He received the "Senabahini Padak" (SBP) for his leadership in the rescue operation. Bangladesh broke the record for the largest human flag on 16 December 2013, also led by Hasan. On 26 March 2014, Bangladesh again made a new record by having the largest number of people singing the national anthem at Dhaka, led by Hasan Sarwardy. The two world records went down to Guinness Book. Sarwardy was awarded Bishisto Seba Padak (BSP) for these world records. Lt General Sarwardy headed the writing team of Bangladesh Defence Policy. For his outstanding contribution, he was awarded the Oshamanno Seba Padak (OSP) by the nation. Sarwardy was instrumental and the founding head of the most modern Computerized War Game Centre for the Bangladesh Army. Sarwardy was an adviser of the Shornokishoree Network. For his outstanding performance, the organization awarded him as "Shorno Manob" in 2018.

Personal life He married twice. His first wife was Farzana Nigar. With whom he has a daughter and a son. After their divorce, he again married media personality Farzana Brownia in November 2018.

Honours