The family who are descendants of Shaista Khan, moved east from Lahore and Delhi and were awarded a pargana by Emperor Jahangir in what came to be called Noorpur in eastern Bengal, about 60 miles SW of Dhaka.

His great grandfather, Yasin Khan (died 1907) was the last occupant of this substantial estate, which was ravaged and destroyed by 19th century battles, and the earthquakes of 1897.

Fahmida's great grandfather was Sir Abdul Majed of Assam and one of the first Bengali to graduate from Cambridge University in 1891 in Law.

Her grand uncle was Major General Mohammad Ishfaqul Mazid, one of the first Indians to be commissioned at Royal Military College in Sandhurst in 1924.

Previously he saw active service in the 1965 Indo-Pak war when he was in command of the patrol craft squadron in the Arabian sea.

On his return to Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, appointed him immediately as the second naval chief of the country in November 1973.

Numerous foreign training opportunities were established for young Bangladesh naval cadets, primarily in the UK and other European NATO countries.

Khan: Turbulence in the Indian Subcontinent", he tells his story and reflects on issues vital to his country, from religion and education to shipping, fishing and international relations.