Full Name: Dr. Col. Oli Ahmad (Retd.), Bir Bikram

Affiliation: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Current Position: President

Date of Birth: September30, 1941

Place of Birth: Bangladesh

Home District: Chittagong

Constituency: 290, Chittagong-13

Term: Sixth (2nd-1979, 5th-1991, 6th-1996 February, 7th-1996, 8th-2001, 9th-2008)

Nationality: Bangladeshi

Profile:

Oli Ahmad, Bir Bikram(born 30 September 1941) is a former Bangladeshi soldier, freedom fighter and now a politician. He is president of the Liberal Democratic Party, LDP Bangladesh. Ahmad was the first Bengali Military officer to revolt against the Pakistani army on 25 March 1971 before the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was the first officer to be awarded the Bir Bikram for his bravery during that war. He fought under Major Ziaur Rahman in Sector 1. Ahmad is highly regarded as one of the key founding members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). On 26 October 2006, Ahmad and several other senior leaders of the BNP defected to form the Liberal Democratic Party. At present he is serving as President of Liberal Democratic Party. While performing as Chief Coordinator for 20 Party Alliance, Dr. Oli Ahmad launched a new movement called "Jatiya Mukti Mancha" On 27th June, 2019.

While studying Law he joined Pakistan Military Academy and was commissioned in the year 1965. He was posted to 4 East Bengal Regiment in 1967 and thereafter to 8 East Bengal Regiment on 24 Sept. 1970.

Ahmad’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge and self-improvement is a very rare and unique feature amongst our current political leaders. Despite the time constraints and immense workload as a national leader, Oli Ahmad obtained PhD. degree from Oxford Brookes University, UK on 22 September 2003 for his thesis titled “Revolution, Military Personnel and the War of Liberation in Bangladesh”. He is a Honourary Research Fellow of Oxford Brookes University, UK.

During the turbulent period of early 1971 Captain Oli Ahmad along with Lieutenant Colonel M R Chowdhury and Major Ziaur Rahman planned to revolt & took preparations in the event of Pakistan Military crackdown. On 25th March 1971, at mid night Capt. Oli Ahmad was the first officer to revolt against Pakistan occupational Army after hearing that, Pakistan Army started massacre at Dhaka. He immediately organised 8 East Bengal Regiment for fighting against them under the leadership of Major Ziaur Rahman, Second-in-Command of the battalion.

Capt. Oli established Combined Headquarters at Fultala of Boalkhali, Chittagong on 27 March 1971 for Army, BDR, Police, Ansars and Freedom Fighters. He was given the responsibility to organize and co-ordinate the battles at greater Chittagong area. He deployed troops at Sitakunda, Chittagong University area, Chittagong port area, Chittagong Court building area, Medical College area, Chokbazar, Cox’s Bazar and Kalurghat Radio Station area under the leadership of various officers on instructions from Major Zia.

Subsequently in the ensuing period, Capt. Oli was appointed Sub-Sector Commander of Chittagong area in the month of April 1971. He was given the responsibility to fight and defend the area from Feni River to Karerhat of Chittagong and was the first sub-sector commander of liberation forces. He fought gallantly in the famous battles of Kalurghat, Mirsarai, Mastannagar, Karerhat, Tolatali, Haku, Chikanchara under Chittagong District, Ramgar under Khagrachari District and Belunia under Noakhali District.

In recognition of his bravery, he was conferred with the gallantry award “Bir Bikram” in the month of September 1971. He was the first officer to be awarded “Bir Bikram” during the liberation war. In July 1971, he was appointed first Brigade Major of the Z-Force.

He was promoted to the rank of Major in October 1972. He served as the Second-in-Command of 19 East Bengal, 9 East Bengal, 10 East Bengal and 6 East Bengal Regiment. For his outstanding service record, late President Ziaur Rahman, BU, Psc and Lt. Gen. Mir Showkat Ali, BU, Psc graded Maj. Oli Ahmad on his Annual Confidential Report as an “outstanding” officer several times and many a times in the following manner. 

Ahmed was promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel in September 1975. He commanded and raised 24 East Bengal Regiment at Saidpur. Thereafter he was posted to Army Head Quarters as a General Staff Officer-1 (Operation). His subsequent postings were to the Office of the Chief of Army Staff and DCMLA and later to the Office of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, CMLA and President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in January 1980. A long associate and as a trusted friend of President Ziaur Rahman, he organized a political party by remaining behind the scene while serving at President’s House. Lateron the party was renamed as BNP on his advice.

Col. Oli Ahmad resigned from service in November 1979 while he had 13 more years to serve in the Bangladesh Army. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the first week of January 1980.

Ahmed worked hard to organise BNP throughout the country and was one of the founders of the party, although formally he joined Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the month of February 1980. At the beginning of his political career, Dr. Oli Ahmad was appointed as State Minister in charge of Ministry of Youth Development in February 1982 where he continued till Martial Law was imposed by Lt. Gen. H. M. Ershad.Most of the senior leaders of BNP joined military dictator Lt. Gen. H. M. Ershad in 1982 after Martial Law. But Dr. Ahmad could not be purchased or coerced into submission. He was the most trusted friend of Begum Zia and Zia’s family. He maintained his principle throughout his political career and was imprisoned twice for political protest during the autocratic rule of Ershad. Third time he was imprisoned from 16th May to 28th May 2012 by Awami League for political protest.

Dr. Oli was elected as a Member of Parliament for the first time in March 1980, second time on 27 February 1991, third time on 15 February 1996, fourth time on 12 June 1996, fifth time on 01 October 2001 and sixth time on 29 December 2008.

Dr. Oli Ahmad consistently upholds his moral stance through out his political career. He never surrenders before any pressure or to any body’s unfair demands. He helped Begum Khaleda Zia to gain control of BNP after the death of President Ziaur Rahman on 30 May 1981. During nine years long struggle against the autocratic ruler General H. M. Earshad, Dr. Oli’s hard work and sincerity helped him to establish himself as one of the leading political figures in BNP. Dr. Oli was inducted into the Standing Committee in 1984, highest policy-making body of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He also played a very important role to reorganise BNP and maintain unity among the rank and file (especially after the desertion of most of the senior leaders of the party) which paved the way for BNP to win Parliamentary Election in 1991.

Dr. Oli was appointed as Cabinet Minister on 20 March 1991 and given the port folio of the Ministry of Communications and held the same port folio till March 1996. He brought new reforms in Bangladesh Railway, BRTC, BRTA and road construction. Some of the organisations were on the verge of financial bankruptcy (with tremendous pressure and objections from international donor agencies about the performance of the Ministry of Communication). However, at the end of his tenure these organisations were not only made profitable and efficient but also their services expanded. As an administrator, Dr. Oli Ahmad has always displayed visionary and pragmatic ideas. As the Minister for Communications he performed excellently. Infact, he laid the foundation of modern road network and constructed many big bridges through out the country including construction work of Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge which was started and 60% work completed during his tenure.

He was sworn in and given the port folio of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Food and Ministry of Water Development Resources in the new cabinet formed in the last week of February 1996. But it was changed on the next day and was appointed as Minister for Energy, Gas and Mineral Resources where he continued till the resignation of BNP government on 30 March 1996.

During the turbulent period 1994-96 he was under immense pressure to become the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from both within his party and from the opposition, however, he never gave into temptation. On 26 October 2006, on protest against corruption, misrule and nepotism- Oli and several other senior leaders of BNP defected to form Liberal Democratic Party - LDP. Unlike most other national leaders of Bangladesh, Oli Ahmad has an outstanding record of service to the nation, shining with true patriotism, dedication, sincerity & honesty. He has been elected as a Parliament Member six times.

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