Published: 02:03 AM, 16 March 2026
Freedom Fighter, Footballer and Parliament Speaker: Hafiz Uddin Ahmed’s Versatile Journey
Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bir Bikram) has been elected as the Speaker of the 13th National Parliament of Bangladesh. With this appointment, the 81-year-old seasoned politician has taken on yet another important responsibility in his long and diverse public life.
However, the story of Major Hafiz is not confined to politics alone. The former army officer has had a long and diverse career as a footballer, freedom fighter, politician, and minister.
Once known as a talented footballer in the 1960s, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed later joined the armed forces and took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. For his bravery and contribution to the war, he was awarded the gallantry title “Bir Bikram,” one of the highest military honors in Bangladesh.
In his long political career spanning more than three decades, he served as a Member of Parliament for about 33 years. Representing the Bhola-3 constituency, he was elected to parliament seven consecutive times, demonstrating strong and consistent support from his constituents. Over the years, he also served as a successful cabinet minister, including holding the portfolio of Minister for Liberation War Affairs.
.His first identity in life was shaped on the green grass of the football field. As a dynamic striker, he represented the Pakistan national football team and the East Bengal Regiment team. His blistering pace, sharp goal-scoring ability, and leadership qualities quickly made him a standout figure in the football arena.
In domestic football, he captained the traditional club Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka) for many years. His presence on the field meant extra pressure for opponents, his contemporaries often recalled. He was not only a prolific goal scorer but also a source of inspiration for his teammates.
Freedom fighter and former national footballer Hafiz Uddin Ahmed recently attended an Iftar gathering of the Dhaka Sonali Otit Club in Motijheel, where he nostalgically recalled the golden days of football in former East Pakistan and early Bangladesh.
Speaking to fellow former players and organizers, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said he often visits the club to remember the vibrant football culture of the past.
“I come here to reminisce about the old days. Today there is hardly anyone left with whom I played. Only Pratap Sankar Hazra is still around. The rest have passed away. They were extremely talented players. Several even played for the Pakistan national team.”
According to him, the period between 1959 and 1962 was highly competitive for footballers from East Pakistan trying to enter the Pakistan national team.
At that time, players from East Pakistan had to compete with strong footballers from West Pakistan.
“During those years the Pakistan national team was one of the best in Asia. But unfortunately the team did not participate in many international competitions like the Asian Games or the World Cup.”
He noted that Pakistan mainly played in the RCD Cup, a regional tournament involving Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed represented Pakistan in that tournament for four years. However, he had only one opportunity to play in a regional match connected with the AFC Asian Cup.
He also recalled the 1962 Merdeka Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, where the Pakistan national team finished as runners-up after losing to South Korea.
“At that time only one Bengali player was in the squad—Zahir Bhai, the right full-back of Mohammedan Sporting Club.”
Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also remembered the famous Dhaka Football League, which was the main sporting attraction of the country in the 1960s.
He particularly praised Victoria Sporting Club, which he described as one of the best teams he had ever seen in the region.
“In 1962 Victoria Club played in the Dhaka League. That team had no Bengali players; all were from West Pakistan. But their combination was extraordinary.”
He recalled how Victoria defeated a visiting team that included several South Korean national players 5-0 in the final of the Aga Khan Gold Cup in Dhaka.
Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also shared an interesting story about a missed international opportunity for two talented players from East Pakistan. During national team training in the mid-1960s, German coach Dettmar Cramer who was associated with the West Germany national football team, admired the performances of players Gafur and Torab Ali. Cramer offered to arrange a contract for them with a club in Germany’s top division. However, the players declined the opportunity because they were afraid of going abroad and worried that they could not speak English.
“They were very timid because they came from poor families and small clubs. Their only dream was to play in the Dhaka League.”
At that time, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said, hundreds of footballers would line up for trials just to secure a place in a Dhaka League club. In those days football was the main source of sporting entertainment in the country.
“Cricket, hockey and other sports were financed by the ticket sales from the Dhaka League matches.” He remarked.
The most popular clubs then were Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka) and Victoria Sporting Club, while earlier teams included Dhaka Wanderers Club. After independence, Abahani Limited Dhaka emerged as another giant of Bangladeshi football. Matches between Mohammedan and Abahani in the 1970s and 1980s attracted massive crowds.
“People would fill the stadium hours before the match. Sometimes thousands had to wait outside because the stadium was already full.”
Later in his career, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also became involved in international football administration. He was elected vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation with the second-highest number of votes in an election held in Indonesia. Through that position he gained access to FIFA, where he served on the disciplinary committee. At the FIFA Congress he met several football legends.
“I met the players whose games I admired, including Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, and Diego Maradona.”
Reflecting on the present, he expressed concern about the decline of football’s popularity in Bangladesh.
“Earlier when Mohammedan played Abahani, the stadium would be full by noon even though the match started at 6 pm.”
He recalled an occasion when he served as president of the Bangladesh Football Federation, and the stadium was filled with spectators as early as 11 a.m.
Hafiz Uddin Ahmed also shared his memories of former president Ziaur Rahman, whom he described as a passionate sports enthusiast. He recalled playing football with Ziaur Rahman when he was the army chief. In March 1976, Ziaur Rahman asked him to organize a friendly football match at Brahmanbaria Stadium between East Bengal officers and other officers.
“He was very fit and a very good sportsman. He even served as our trainer at the Military Academy.”
The sports arena of this country also holds a proud place in the glorious history of the Liberation War. One of the shining examples of this connection is Major (Retd.) Hafizuddin Ahmed Bir Bikram—an outstanding footballer who later proved his courage on the battlefield. The great Liberation War of 1971 brought a turning point in his life. His football career was temporarily interrupted as he actively joined the war. After independence, his bravery was recognized when he was awarded the gallantry title Bir Bikram. In 1973, he also received the National Sports Award. Thus, three identities—freedom fighter, army officer, and footballer—combined to give his personality a unique dimension.
During his sporting career, Major Hafiz was not limited to football alone. He was also a successful athlete. In the National Athletics Championships, he earned the distinction of being the fastest man in the country multiple times. Before independence, his dominance in the 100-meter sprint was widely known across East Pakistan. While studying at Dhaka University, he also won the prestigious “Blue” medal for his sporting excellence.
His football talent seemed almost God-given. Unlike many others, he did not have to struggle long to secure a place in a prestigious team like Mohammedan. While studying political science at Dhaka University, he continued to play football at the highest level in the country. Eventually, the opportunity came to step onto the international stage.
On March 29, 1971, he emerged as the leader of the Bengali soldiers of the 1st East Bengal Regiment in Jessore who rebelled against the Pakistan Army and the very concept of the Pakistani state. After eight hours of fierce and bloody fighting, they broke out of Jessore Cantonment and joined the struggle for independence.
The celebrated national football star then spent the next nine months on the battlefield with a weapon in his hand. The sound of automatic gunfire became part of daily life. Witnessing the death of fellow soldiers became a harsh reality of war. He lost dear friends and comrades, but his morale never faltered.
He fought with the dream of an independent Bangladesh—and the hope that one day he would play football wearing the jersey of a free nation.
But that dream never came true. Despite his many accomplishments, one regret remained in his sporting life: he never had the opportunity to represent the national team of independent Bangladesh. Nevertheless, he was once the highest scorer for Mohammedan in the domestic league. Recalling that regret, Hafizuddin Ahmed once said,
“I do not know why I could not play in the first national team of independent Bangladesh. It is a very painful feeling. Maybe the football administrators of that time did not consider me worthy. Maybe there was some other reason. This regret will never go away.”
From the mid-1990s onward, Major Hafiz began devoting more time to politics than sports. His political journey began in the 1980s when he was first elected as a Member of Parliament. Later, he also served as a minister. Now, by assuming the role of Speaker, another milestone has been added to that path.
He has been elected to Parliament seven times, most recently winning the Bhola-3 constituency with a landslide victory under the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol. Many observers see this victory not only as a political achievement but also as recognition of the remarkable life of a sports legend.
He is also one of the founders of Sonali Oteet Club, an organization formed by former footballers of Bangladesh. In recognition of his lifelong contribution to football, he was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit in 2004, honoring him as one of the most distinguished football personalities of the century in Bangladesh.
Hafizuddin Ahmed’s life story is truly diverse and inspiring. As a student, he was brilliant in academics and passionate about sports from an early age. Football, cricket, athletics—there was hardly any sport that did not attract him. While many of his university peers were absorbed in the romantic distractions of youth, Hafizuddin’s focus remained firmly on sports.
The man who once thrilled spectators by scoring goals on the football field is now responsible for maintaining order and guiding debates in the national parliament. After journeys through sports, war, administration, and politics, the Speaker’s chair represents yet another goalpost in the rich and multidimensional life of Major Hafiz.
From the roar of the stadium to the dignity of the Speaker’s chair, Major Hafiz Uddin Ahmed’s journey remains a rare example of a life enriched by sportsmanship, courage, and public service.
Adnan Hadi is a senior journalist mainly
writing on archeological sites and
sports. He can be reached
