Published: 08:23 PM, 11 June 2026 Last Update: 08:27 PM, 11 June 2026
Tofail Ahmed: Farewell After Politics, Struggle and Controversy
Asad Parvez
In Bangladesh's politics, there are a few people whose colorful lives and long political journey/careers have been subjects of great and lavish praise (Independence activist, Bengali nationalist), extreme controversy, unparalleled achievements and sharp criticism. Veteran and senior Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed (22 October 1943 - 1 June 2026) was one such person. Ahmed was born to Bengali Muslim parents Moualvi Azhar Ali and Fatema Begum in the village of Koralia in Bhola Island in a very poor family. In his long 82-year life, he remained an important part of Bangladesh's politics for over 60 years. From a young student leader to a senior national leader, from an activist on narrow village paths to a state minister, from a lawmaker in parliament to a top policymaker of the Awami League— he maintained his presence at every stage.
His death (June 1, 2026) has created a sense of the end of a remarkable political era in Bangladesh's political arena. Because he was not just a politician; he was a direct witness and participant in Bangladesh's post-independence political history.
This senior Awami League leader's political rise began through the tumultuous student politics of the 1960s. As a student leader at Dhaka University, he quickly gained recognition. The 1969 mass uprising was a significant chapter in his political life.
However, it is alleged that in 1969, Hasanul Haque Inu, Menon, and he were involved in the killing of Dhaka University student Abdul Malek. At that time, the anti-Ayub movement in East Pakistan had intensified, and the student community was at the forefront of that movement.
Various historical accounts show that the 1969 movement was full of conflict, sacrifice and political rivalries. Although controversies and differing opinions exist about many events of that time, it is undeniable that Tofail Ahmed was one of the most active organizers of the mass movement.
He was able to establish his position at the national level through student politics. After the 1971 Liberation War, Tofail Ahmed emerged as one of the leading young leaders of the Awami League. He gained recognition everywhere as a close political associate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Although he stayed in India during the Liberation War, he was one of the organizers of the Mujibnagar Government.
In the post-independence state-building phase, he also performed important responsibilities in the Awami League. He participated in efforts to implement Sheikh Mujib's political philosophy after independence. He was one of the four regional chiefs of the Mujib Bahini. Coming to the center of national politics at a young age was a rare achievement for Tofail Ahmed. One of the hallmarks of Tofail Ahmed's political life was his long parliamentary experience.
He was the VP of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) from 1967 to 1969. In 1970, Ahmed was a political secretary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was appointed political secretary to Prime Minister Mujibur Rahman with the rank of a minister in 1972. He was elected as a lawmaker to the national parliament 9-term (Representing the Bhola-1, Bhola-2 and Bakerganj-1 constituencies during 1970 and 1973-2024)—a notable record in Bangladesh's political history. His influence in the riverine region of Bhola was extremely strong. He was able to earn the trust of the people of that region for a long time. Due to local development, infrastructure construction, and representing the area in national politics, he was elected several times through public votes. Additionally, he was elected uncontested in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections.
However, alongside his long political success, there was no shortage of criticism. Opponents often characterized him as a representative of power-centric politics. On the other hand, according to his supporters, it was his long political experience and organizational skills that allowed him to retain public support for so many years. Tofail Ahmed served as a minister at various times. Particularly as Commerce Minister, he worked on the national economy, the export sector and improving the business environment. As an experienced politician, he often spoke on national issues and wrote columns in newspapers. His presence in parliament and his political analytical skills were admired by many.
Despite political differences, many opposition leaders acknowledged his experience. Throughout his long political career, Tofail Ahmed was never free from controversy. Various events from his student politics days, power politics, party positions and various political statements repeatedly brought him to the center of discussion. In the reality of Bangladesh's politics, it is not possible for any leader who remains close to power for a long time to be free from controversy.
Tofail Ahmed was no exception. However, both supporters and critics agree that he was an important charismatic figure in Bangladesh's political history. The most controversial issue was his political stance at the time of Sheikh Mujib's assassination. Many believe that it was due to the excessive malpractice of some individuals that political deadlock arose in the country, leading to public suffering and subsequently the assassination of Sheikh Mujib. Furthermore, from 6 January 2009 until Sheikh Hasina's departure on August 5, 2024, senior leader Tofail Ahmed was a significant participant in the oppression-based politics of the Awami League.
Tofail Ahmed represented a political chronicle of those who matured in politics through the movements of the Pakistan era, the 1969 mass uprising, the Liberation War, post-independence state-building, anti-military rule movements, the struggle for the restoration of democracy and Awami League's misrule. For many politicians of the current generation, his political life is a subject worthy of study. His entire life contains not only a history of movements but also power politics, organizational leadership, and long parliamentary experience. Finally, his death has created an inevitable vacuum in Bangladesh's political arena.
Differences in political ideology are natural, but to evaluate the life of a senior leader, one must consider his overall contributions, his own limitations and the context of the currents of time. He was a witness to many important events in the country's history. The life of this senior figure is a realistic reflection of the rise and fall, hopes and disappointments, and changes in Bangladesh's politics. Today (June 1, 2026), with his death, the country's politics has lost a chapter—a senior, experienced, and controversial veteran leader. History will ultimately evaluate him in light of his achievements, failures, controversies and the diverse qualities of his long political journey. However, one thing is absolutely certain: Tofail Ahmed's name will be discussed in Bangladesh's political history for a long time— sometimes in lavish praise among his activists, sometimes in criticism among the masses, and sometimes in extreme controversial disregard—which time will tell.
Asad Parvez is a researcher
and political analyst. Views
expressed in the article are the
writer’s personal opinions.
