Shaon Arafat

On the early morning of 16 October 2025, as residents of the bustling city of Dhaka awoke to begin another day, Captain Shahabuddin Ahmed breathed his last in his quiet home in Gulshan. At seventy-seven, he was the last surviving member of the legendary Kilo Flight. Born in 1948 in Faridpur to Giasuddin Ahmed and Laili Rashid, Capt Ahmed began his aviation career with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as a pilot. It was during his tenure at PIA, amid growing discrimination against Bengalis, that he found his true calling. Initially, he joined the East Pakistani Airlines Pilot Association, seeking to voice the concerns of his community. However, his appeals, like those of his colleagues, were ignored by the West Pakistani establishment. The situation escalated in March 1971, when the military launched Operation Searchlight—a brutal crackdown on the Bengali population. Left with no alternative, Capt Ahmed fled to India.

In India, Capt Ahmed joined Kilo Flight, an organisation comprising nine pilots and forty-eight Bengali crewmen, all volunteers. Kilo Flight was established in Dimapur on 28 September 1971, under the leadership of Group Captain AK Khandker (who would later become the first Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force), with support from the Indian Air Force. Despite its modest resources—one Dakota, one Otter, and one Alouette-3 helicopter—Kilo Flight made history by launching the opening strike of the war on a major fuel depot in Chittagong. Capt Ahmed participated in ten combat missions during the Liberation War. Among his many daring feats, one stands out: an interdiction mission on the night of 11 December 1971. With Indian paratroopers pinned down by fierce resistance, Capt Ahmed flew his Alouette helicopter low and slow, interdicting enemy positions. His actions inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and contributed significantly to the mission’s success. For his bravery, Capt Ahmed was awarded the Bir Uttom and, after the war, returned to civilian life, working with Biman Bangladesh Airlines until 2007.

On 16 October 2025, as news of Capt Ahmed’s passing spread, condolences poured in from across the globe. A state funeral was held at BAF Bashar, attended by the chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, senior armed forces officials, and representatives from the chief adviser’s office. The high commissioner of India and the chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force also expressed their condolences, acknowledging invaluable contributions of Capt Ahmed and Kilo Flight to the Liberation War.

This year, as Bangladesh marks the 54th Victory Day, this article serves as a tribute to Capt Shahabuddin Ahmed and countless other heroes who fought for our motherland’s independence—lest we forget their sacrifices.

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The writer is a member of editorial section