Tofail Ahmed: A Legendary Political Icon

 

John C. Maxwell once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” Tofail Ahmed is a giant living politician of Bangladesh. He is a 7-term Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Bhola-1, Bhola-2 and Bakerganj-1 constituencies since 1973. Previously he served as the Minister of Commerce and Minister of Industries of the Government of Bangladesh.

In 1970, Ahmed was the political secretary to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a Bangladesh independence activist and one of the organizers of Mujib Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971

He knows the art of politics in line with the spirit of the above quote. Tofail is a living legend in politics in Bangladesh from his student’s life at a very early age. The 1969 upheaval led by Ahmed was so popular that it had a far-reaching impact on our national politics and history. The Guardian newspaper of UK then ran a report on him and introduced him as the virtual Governor of former East Pakistan during the 1969 uprising though Tofail Ahmed used to live an ordinary life like the general students, taking money from his father.

The 1969 uprising which led the ouster of Pakistan’s dictatorial President Ayub Khan from power and the Agartala Conspiracy Case against Bangabandhu Mujib was reduced to ashes. Sheikh Mujib came out from the jail like a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength. He was then adorned with the title of “Bangabandhu” (Friend of Bengal) at a mass reception by Tofail Ahmed on behalf of the people of Bangladesh. Later on, Bangabandhu became the Founding Father of Bangladesh.

He was born in a remote hamlet under the Bhola District of Bangladesh on 22nd October 1943. His very name signifies him something else…extraordinary… over-the-top …a legendary politician in Bangladesh’s history. A symbol of something! It is something that someone intends to stand for something other than itself. A symbol is something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention. It does not have to be an image: for example, a rose can be said to be a symbol of love, a cup can be used as an object of reference, a symbol for breaking time, and a cross - a symbol of hope.

Yes, Tofail Ahmed has stood as a symbol of hope for his people. He was a legendary student leader during his student life in the Dhaka University in the 1960s. Politics is not an end, but a means. It is not a product, but a process. It is the art of government. Like other values it has its values. So much emphasis has been placed upon the significance of the true, candid and sincere service to the people. He is a great political leader like the famous words of Beth Revis, "Power isn't control at all--power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn't someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own."

The term 1960s refers to an era more often called the Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends around the globe. Tofail Ahmed was a product of that time; and he led the 1969 mass uprising as the Vice President of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union. If you analyze the nature of student politics in the golden days of the 1950s and 1960s, you may find the difference.

"The Sixties", as they are known in both scholarship and popular culture, is a term used by historians, journalists, and other objective academics; in some cases, nostalgically to describe the counterculture and revolution in social norms about clothing, music, drugs, dress, sexuality, formalities, and schooling; and in others pejoratively to denounce the decade as one of irresponsible excess, flamboyance, and decay of social order.

In Bangladesh, the 1960s was a period of radical political change as 32 countries gained independence from their European colonial rulers. During that period, all of the student organizations were ideologically based and were accountable to the general students, since they had to go to the general students to win the central union elections.  As a result, they tried to attract the general students by motivating them, dealing with the problems of the students and through co-curricular activities.

Through such activities they supplemented the national issues. As a result, these issues got popularity and became successful movements. Tofail Ahmed once said, “Bangladesh Chhatra League was neither a student front of the Awami League nor was it an associate member, rather it was an independent organization led by the students for the welfare of the students. We were not allowed to deliver speeches with the national leaders, nor did the national leaders come to our programs except in 1970, when Bangabandhu participated at the council of Chhatra League due to a national crisis.”

Now as a giant politician, he considers like the political leaders and social scientists who believe that student politics can be revived to its original form by handing over absolute control to regular students by arranging councils and central students’ elections regularly. A fully functional central students’ union is also effective in running the universities smoothly. The university and college authorities could easily solve many problems in consultation with the elected student leaders. To achieve this, they believe that the political leaders must come to consensus of not misusing the students for political or personal interest; the teachers should play a neutral and nurturing role. When the process will start functioning, it will attract the brightest students.

True leadership can only emerge if students get a chance to nurture their leadership qualities during their university life. A complete end to political activities is not the answer and will cause the nation to suffer in the future. A future generation lacking political consciousness will create intellectually stunted national leaders.

Organizing the students’ union elections is the need of the hour and student organizations should be prepared for this by arranging councils. It is only if our political parties are sincere about making sure about our educational institutions are exactly what they are supposed be, that is, centres of learning where young adults are inspired to be principled, honest citizens, the culture of violence and corruption under the shelter of student politics will end. Student politics should be limited to issues that affect students and enhance student life not endanger it.

Former Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed is one of the most influential political leaders in the history of Bangladesh and an ideal follower of the “Father of the Nation” Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was one of the great organizers of Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and acted as one of the Chiefs of Bangladesh Liberation Front or in other words ‘Mujib Bahini’. He is a veteran Parliamentarian and earned love and respect of Parliament Members and people from all walks of life for his oratory skills in parliamentary debate on various national issues.

Earlier he was one of the influential members of the presidium (highest body) of AL. He started political career by joining in AL in 1970. He started politics since his student life by joining student politics. Huge numbers of people participated in demonstrations that are still remembered with reverence--like the 1969 movement under his able and dynamic student leadership. It was a significant movement as if like all power to all the people, whether you are white, black, blue, red, green, yellow or polka-dotted--in the final analysis, what was wanted was real Bengali people's community control and empowerment. The struggle was for a different future for the people of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has a long and very rich history. It has produced amazing leaders who have influenced and contributed to the people, history and country as it is today. Some of them were good leaders, others even great. But there have also been leaders who abused their power and did not serve the public interest and who failed to follow the public interests to serve their citizens. It is important to know who at least some of these leaders were and how they shaped our country and its people. They were not only the big leaders – they are the people’s leaders and Tofail Ahmed is one of such a great leader in the domain Bangladesh’s politics.

He has been working tirelessly to make a difference to uplift the lives of common people in Bangladesh. Most people will agree that Tofail like leaders influence our country in some way or another. In Bangladesh, many independence movement leaders helped their country to gain freedom from colonial rulers and in this respect; the name of Tofail Ahmed will come to the forefront in the public eyes. He is one of the strong voices of people’s power in Bangladesh. He is still remembered as the de-facto Governor of former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1969 uprising.

Long live this living legend of politics of Bangladesh with his warmth of sunshine for his people.

 
Anwar A. Khan is a freedom
fighter who writes on politics
and international affairs.