Born in Sunamganj, Sylhet division on 1st September, 1918, General Muahammad Ataul Gani Osmani was the commander in chief of Bangladesh forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 who was in charge of making the overall strategy of the operations undertaken by the sector commanders. He presided over the sector commander's conference 1971 and created the entire Bangladesh armed forces. He is popularly known by his honorary title Bongobir (Hero of Bengal). During his service in the Pakistan Army, he was always vocal against the discrimination against Bengali officers of Pakistan army, which made him getting demoted once and his promotion was postponed. Osmani joined the Sheikh Mujib-led Awami League in 1970 and in the 1970 election he was elected as the MNA from Fenchuganj Area of Sylhet. On 17th April Osmani assumed the personal command of Bangladeshi forces in the Liberation war of 1971. A descendant of Shah Nizamuddin Osmani of Dayamir ,Osmani led a Spartan life where luxury had no room. He used to wear simple clothes and preferred having a strict culinary taste. For his stern nature and iconic whisker, he was familiar among his colleague as "the man with the moustache".  Osmani died on 16th February, 1984 of cancer and was buried in Darga, Sylhet with full military honours.