Zia Ahmed (officer)
Zia Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 July 1954 Sujanargar, East Bengal, Pakistan (now Rajshahi, Bangladesh) |
| Died | 11 September 2012 (aged 58) Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Buried | Banani Army Graveyard |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
| Service/ |  Bangladesh Army |
| Years of service | 1975-2009 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | Corps of Signals |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | ONUMOZ |
Zia Ahmed psc was a major general of the Bangladesh Army and former chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.[1][2]
Early life[edit]
Ahmed was born on 26 July 1954 in Sujanagar Upazila, Pabna District, East Pakistan, Pakistan.[3] His father was Sarder Jayenuddin, a notable poet.[3] He graduated from Tejgaon Polytechnic High School and Notre Dame College, Dhaka.[3]
Career[edit]
Ahmed was commissioned in the Signals Corps of Bangladesh Army in 1975.[4]
Ahmed had served in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique.[4]
Ahmed was sent into forced retirement from Bangladesh Army during the 2001 to 2006 Bangladesh Nationalist Party government with the rank of brigadier general.[3] After Awami League came to power in 2009, Ahmed was promoted to major general and appointment chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in February 2009.[3] He replaced Major General Manzurul Alam.[5] He was appointed on a three year contract.[6] He signed the agreement for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's Bangabandhu Satellite.[7] He had demanded 30 billion taka in taxes from Grameenphone, the largest telecom company in Bangladesh.[8] After Alam, Ahmed was the second Army officer to head the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.[9]
In November 2010, Ahmed spoke at an event organized by Lieutenant General Harun-Ar-Rashid which criticised the political statements issued by former Army officers in favor of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.[10] He also briefly blocked Facebook that year in Bangladesh.[11]
Ahmed made the pulse rate for cellphone operators at 10 seconds.[9] He struggled with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology over organizational jurisdiction harming ties between the two entities.[9]
Death[edit]
Ahmed died on 11 September 2012 in United Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.[3] He was buried in Banani Army Graveyard.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Brig Gen Zia new BTRC chairman". The Daily Star. 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ "Zia Ahmed: life as telecom regulator and beyond". The Daily Star. 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ a b c d e f "BTRC chief Zia Ahmed passes away". The Daily Star. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ a b c "BTRC chief Zia Ahmed buried". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ "Zia Ahmed set for BTRC job". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ "Zia Ahmed made BTRC chairman". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ International, Space Partnership. "Bangabandhu Satellite for The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVEGP must pay: BTRC chief". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ a b c Mamun, Abdullah (2012-09-11). "3 years of a telecom regulator". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ "Keep armed forces above controversy". The Daily Star. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ^ "Facebook reopens". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.