Tofail Ahmed, one of the organizers of the 1969 mass uprising and the Great Liberation War, former Minister of Industries and senior leader of the Awami League, has passed away (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun). He was 82.
He breathed his last around 4 pm at Square Hospital, according to his family sources.
Tofail Ahmed was an 8-time Member of Parliament representing the Bhola-1, Bhola-2 and Bakerganj-1 constituencies during 1973–2024.
He also served as the Minister of Commerce and Minister of Industries.
He is survived by his only daughter Dr Taslima Ahmed Zaman Munni. His wife, Anwara Ahmed, died on November 20 last year.
Tofail Ahmed, born on October 22, 1943, was one of the organizers of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and served as the chief of the Bangladesh Liberation Front.
Ahmed joined the Awami League (now party activities are banned) in support of the 1966 Six-Point Movement and was involved in the 1969 mass uprising in East Pakistan as a student leader.
He was the vice-president of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union.
Besides that, after 1975, he spent about five years in jails of Dhaka, Mymensing, Sylhet, Cumilla, Barishal, Kushtia and Rajshahi.
He was a veteran Parliamentarian and earned the love and respect of Parliament Members and people from all walks of life for his speeches in parliamentary debate on various national issues.
He was the Minister for Commerce and Industries from June1996 to December, 1999.
He continued as the Minister for Industries up to 2001, Chairman Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Industry from 2009-2013.
He was also Minister for Housing & Public Works and Industries from November 2013 to January 2014.
He continued as the Minister for the Ministry from January 2014 to December 2018. In 1970, Ahmed was a political secretary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
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