Tawab was born in a village near Sylhet, of Bengal Province, British Indian Empire, on 1 July 1930.

After Sheikh Mujib's assassination in August 1975, Tawab was immediately recalled from West Germany to active duty by then military secretary, Brigadier general Ziaur Rahman upon then Wing Commander M. Hamidullah Khan's advice.

[4][5] Tawab also brought back four army officers involved in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and reinstated them in the Bengal Lancers at Bogra Cantonment.

[2] This led to the 1976 Bogra mutiny under Syed Faruque Rahman, one of the officers Tawab helped return to Bangladesh.

[4] After the failed mutiny, Major General Ziaur Rahman retired Tawab, sent the four officers back, and disbanded the Bengal Lancers.