Usman Khan Afghan Afghan chief, champion of Afghan independence and the most formidable opponent of the Mughals in Bengal. He was the son of Isa Khan Nuhani Mian Khel and nephew of Qutlu Khan Nuhani. Qutlu Khan Nuhnai was the ruler of North Orissa. mansingh assigned Khwaja Usman a fief in the Faridpur district of East Bengal after the Mughal conquest of Orissa (1593). But before he could arrive there Mansingh cancelled his grants, at which he broke out in open rebellion, ravaged south Bengal and then joined isa khan Masnad-i-Ala. Usman established himself in the region east of the Brahmaputra in Mymsensingh district, with the city of bukainagar as his stronghold. In alliance with Isa Khan he fought more than once with Mansingh and continued his political alliance with musa khan. Usman maintained friendly relations with the Afghan chiefs Bayezid Karrani of Sylhet and anwar khan of Baniachang.

After the fall of Musa Khan, Usman was the main target of Subahdar islam khan chisti who sent an expedition towards Bukainagar (1611). The steady advance of the invaders, though opposed by Usman almost at every stage, created confusion and dissension in his ranks. Nasir Khan and Dariya Khan, two Afghan chiefs of Tajpur, left Usman and joined the imperialists. Alarmed at this desertion and apprehensive of further defection of his ranks, Usman evacuated Bukainagar and sought refuge in Sylhet with Bayezid Karrani.

Usman created a new centre of authority in the hilly tract in the southern part of Sylhet, with Uhar as the fortified capital. He stationed his son Khwaja Mumriz and brother Khwaja Malhi in the neighbouring tract of Taraf. A strong and well-equipped imperialist army was sent against Usman under the chief command of Shujat Khan. Usman opposed the advancing army at Daulambapur, a village about five miles south of Maulvi Bazar.

In the first phase of the battle (12 March 1612) confusion arose in the Mughal army. Their right and left wings were thoroughly defeated with heavy casualties, the commanders of both were slain, and the rest were chased up to the main imperial entrenchment. The Afghans succeeded in breaking the centre and isolated the commander-in-chief who narrowly escaped capture. When the victory of the Afghans seemed certain, an arrow shot pierced through the left eye of Usman and this rolled back the tide of fortune. He became totally blind and soon succumbed to death. The Afghans continued desultory fighting till the end of the day, and at nightfall silently left for Uhar with the body of their general and buried it by the side of a hill. Usman has been immortalised for his personal valour, tenacity of purpose and love for freedom. [Muazzam Hussain Khan]