Ziauddin Ahmed (14 September 1950 – 28 July 2017) was a war hero, freedom fighter and sub-sector commander under Sector 9 of Mukti Bahini during Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.[1]
Ziauddin Ahmed | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 September 1950 Pirojpur, East Bengal, Pakistan (now, Barsial, Bangladesh) |
| Died | 28 July 2017 (aged 66) Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore |
| Political party | Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse | Kaniz Mahmuda |
| Profession | Military officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh Pakistan (before 1971) |
| Branch/service |  Pakistan Army (before 1971) Bangladesh Army |
| Years of service | 1969 – 1976 |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | Punjab Regiment East Bengal Regiment |
| Commands |
|
| Battles/wars | Bangladesh Liberation War |
Ziauddin was a witness in Bangabandhu assassination case.[2][3] He took part in Day of Uprising of Soldier and People on November 7 in 1975.
Early life and education
editZiaudding born at Parerhat village in Pirojpur district in 1950.[4] His father Aftabuddin Ahmed was a chairman of Pirojpur municipality and founder of the then Pirojpur Awami League division.
Ziauddin Ahmed completed higher secondary certificate from Pirojpur Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College.[5] He was the Pirojpur Sub-Division Chhatra Union president in 1968.[6]
Career
editAhmed was commissioned as a second lieutenant of the Pakistan Army in 1969. He was serving the army in the then West Pakistan when the Liberation War broke out in 1971.[2]
Ahmed fled from Lahore, West Pakistan in July 1971 and joined the Liberation War thereafter.[2] He was appointed as commander of Sundarbans sub-sector under sector 9. He is reputed to have run the most disciplined force during the war.[1]
Ziauddin was a major of the Bangladesh Army in 1975. He was serving at the Directorate Forces Intelligence (DFI) during the brutal bloodbath of August 15, 1975. After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he was relieved of his duty. Following the killing of Bangabandhu on August 15, Ziauddin joined the so-called Day of Uprising of Soldier and People (otherwise known as National Revolution and Solidarity Day) on November 7, the same year under the leadership of Col Taher.
After 1975, he moved to Pirojpur and joined Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. He started a non-political organisation "Banchao Sundarban" to protect the wildlife sanctuary of Sundarban.[7] Later, he stood for the Biplobi Sainik Sangshta (Revolutionary Sepoy's Organisation) in opposing the military rule and took shelter in the Sundarbans with his followers as part of the resistance. Ziaduddin was arrested in an army operation in the Sundarbans in 1976. Along with many other descanting military officials and political leaders, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court. In 1980, he was freed on presidential clemency.[8] Ziauddin served as municipality chairman of Pirojpur municipality between 1989 and 1991. In 1996, he joined Awami League and was an advisor Awami League's Pirojpur unit.[5]
To eliminate bandits from Sundarbans Ziauddin formed an organisation of fishermen named Dubla Fisherman Group of which he was also the chairman.[6] He was injured during a gun battle with the forest's bandits in 2013.[6][9][10]
Personal life
editZiauddin Ahmed was a writer and a journalist. He married Kaniz Mahmuda and fathered four children.[7] He was nicknamed the ‘Mukuthin Somrat’ (crownless king) of the Sundarbans.[4]
Death
editHe had been suffering from liver ailments since 2015. He died at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital on 28 July 2017. He was given State Honour by the Bangladesh Army.[11] He was buried at his family graveyard at Parerhat Road in Pirojpur.[4]
Authored book
edit- Muktijuddhe Sundarban.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Sub sector commander Maj Ziauddin dies". The Daily Observer. 2017-12-12. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ a b c "Freedom fighter Major Ziauddin passes away". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- ^ "Freedom fighter Ziauddin no more". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ a b c "News Details". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- ^ a b "Freedom fighter Ziauddin dies". New Age (Bangladesh). 2017-12-12. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ a b c "Sub-sector commander Ziauddin passes away". The Daily Star. 2017-12-12. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ a b "Valiant Freedom fighter Maj Ziauddin dies". banglanews24.com. 2017-12-12. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ "Liberation War sub-sector commander Ziauddin Ahmed dies". Dhaka Tribune. 2017-12-12. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ "Bd Today:Major (retd) Ziauddin hit by bulletFour forest bandits killed in Sundarbans gunfight". newsforbd.net. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ "Major Zia injured and death of 4 dacoits claimed". Amader Barisal News. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ^ "Sub Sector Commander Ziauddin laid to rest - City News". The Daily Observer (Bangladesh). Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- ^ "Freedom fighter Maj Ziauddin who led 1971 battles in the Sundarbans dies". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2017-12-12.