Bodu Hassan, who served the military for 38 years, dies

Warrant Officer Grade Two (Retired) Hassan Aboobakuru (Bodu Hassan), who served the military for over 38 years, has passed away on Wednesday.

Hassan died on Wednesday night, in neighboring Sri Lanka.

Command Sargeant Major Abdulla Saeed a commentator on the history of Maldivian military wrote that Hassan joined the army on August 13, 1970 and honorably retired on August 1, 2009.

According Saeed, Hassan was a fearless individual who was among soldiers who fought against enemies on Male’ streets during the November 3^rd coup.

In this regard, he detailed that Hassan was included among the team that traveled to Girifushi to procure weapons. He was among members of the team that were detained by Indian soldiers upon their arrival back in Male’ after being mistaken for enemies.

“They were kept on their knees at gun point until the Indian soldiers could confirm they were part of Maldivian troops,” Saeed detailed in a Facebook post.

Saeed further wrote Hassan was one of three individuals in the unit newly incepted on November 14, 1978, to provide engineering services to military vehicles.

The unit, which began as ‘Transport Section’, has now expanded and evolved to MNDF’s Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EMS) unit.

Hassan also served in the former ‘Transport Service’ unit, which is now ‘Supply and Transport Service’ (STS) unit. Saeed said Hassan was serving in the unit at the time of his retirement. 

According to Saeed, Hassan has been honored with six ribbons and five medals. The medals he has received are medal for good conduct, medal for defense force service, medal for dedicated service, centenary medal and 3rd November medal. The ribbons he has received include long service ribbon and the presidential ribbon.