Oli Ahad

Oli Ahad
অলি আহাদ
Bornc. 1928
Islampur, Brahmanbaria District, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died20 October 2012(2012-10-20) (aged 84–85)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
OccupationPolitician
Political partyBangla Jatiya League
SpouseRashida Begum
ChildrenRumeen Farhana
AwardsIndependence Award

Oli Ahad (c. 1928 – 20 October 2012) was a Bangladeshi politician and language activist of the Language Movement.[1][2] He was awarded The Independence Day Award in 2004 by the Government of Bangladesh.[3]

Early life

Ahad was born in c. 1928 to a Bengali family in the village of Islampur in Bijoynagar, Brahmanbaria District (then part of Tipperah District, Bengal Presidency). His father, Abdul Wahab, was a district magistrate.[2] In 1944, he passed matriculation from Daudkandi Government Aided High School.[2] During the election for the referendum of Pakistan, he became involved in politics and campaigned in places like Tipperah and Bogra, and was arrested a number of times. Barrister Rumeen Farhana is his daughter.[4]

Career

Ahad was one of the founders of East Pakistan Muslim Chhatra League formed on 4 January 1948.[1] He was the founding general secretary of the Ganatantrik Juba League.[1] He joined the National Awami Party (NAP) through the Kagmari Convention in 1957.[1]

Involvement in language movement

Ahad first met with Khawaja Nazimuddin to discuss his language proposal on 8 January 1948. Later that year, he became a member of the committee that organised a Hartal on 12 March, demanding Bangla be made the official state language. Prior to that, he was also nominated as a member of the Muslim Chhatra League. While picketing in front of the Secretariat, he was attacked and arrested along with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Khaleque Nawaz Khan, and Shamsul Haque.[5]

In 1949, Ahad and three other students were expelled from the university. Ahad was present at the historical meeting that took place at the Amtala of Dhaka University on 21 February 1952. Later that day, he organized the agitated students. The next day, he led a rally and called for a nationwide Hartal.

Other activities

Ahad served as the editor of the weekly publication Ittehad.[2] He was also the chairman of a political party named Democratic League.[6] He wrote a book named Jatiyo Rajneeti 1945 Theke 1975 (National Politics: 1945 To 1975).

Illness and death

Ahad had been ill and in hospital during March–April 2012, returning home after his condition improved. He was again admitted to Samarita Hospital in Dhaka on 14 October with a lung infection, ultimately resulting in his death on 20 October 2012.[1][2]

Family

Ahad was married to Rashida Begum, an academic who studied at University of Chicago . They had a daughter Barrister Rumeen Farhana.[1]

Legacy

Dhaka City Corporation renamed Dhanmondi Road No. 4 after him on 27 February 2007.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Language warrior Oli Ahad dead". bdnews24. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Oli Ahad no more". The Daily Star. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 21 October 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Independence Day Award" (PDF). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  4. ^ Rumeen gets BNP nomination for reserved women seat, Daily Sun, 21 May 2019
  5. ^ Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh (2012). The unfinished memoirs. New Delhi, India. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-670-08546-0. OCLC 840484565.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Ahmed, Monowar. Bhasha Andoloner Shochitro Dolil, Agamee Prokashani, pp. 110 ISBN 984-401-147-7