Karim Uddin Ahmed

Karim Uddin Ahmed (Bengali: করিম উদ্দিন আহমেদ; 19 March 1923 – 28 August 1991)^[1] was a Bangladesh Awami League politician and a Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Rangpur-6 constituency during 1973–1979.

Ahmed was born on 19 March 1923 to a Bengali family in the village of Kashiram in Kaliganj, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur district, Bengal Presidency.^[2] He was a son of Moulvi Azim Uddin Ahmad and Nesabi Bewa. He completed his primary education at the pathshala of Nilambar Pandit in Madanpur-Bairati. After that, he studied at the Chilakhal-Paikan madrasa in Gangachara, before proceeding to be educated at the Tushbhandar High School until tenth grade.^[2]

Ahmed began his career as an employee of a local Marwari-owned business in 1945. He later established his own jute business. Among his philanthropic contributions is the establishment of various institutions across the Kaliganj thana such as the Kaliganj Karim Uddin Public Pilot High School, Kaliganj Karim Uddin Public Degree College, Karim Uddin Primary School and Karimpur Nesaria Dakhil Madrasa. He also contributed to literary and cultural activities.^[2]

Ahmed's entry into politics began with the Quit India Movement, and he was arrested for assisting Mukunda Das. In 1954, he was elected chairman of the Union Board and served in this position for sixteen years. He was elected to the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly as an Awami League candidate for Rangpur-6 constituency but this assembly was not formed and later the Bangladesh Liberation War happened in 1971. During the war, Ahmed presided over the Kaliganj Sangram Council and contributed to the formation of the Kaliganj branch of the Mukti Bahini. His home served as a Mukti Bahini headquarters where the local youth would be provided training. Ahmed hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh in a public meeting organised at Kaliganj ground. When the Pakistan Army entered Kaliganj, Ahmed fled to Cooch Behar where he established two Mukti Bahini camps, serving as an organiser of the northern Mukti Bahini.

After independence, Ahmed was elected to the first Jatiya Sangsad as a Rangpur-6 Awami League candidate at the 1973 Bangladeshi general election.^[3]

Life History:

Alhaj Karim Uddin Ahmed was a highly influential personality in Northern Bengal, particularly in the Kaliganj Upazila of Lalmonirhat District, who rose from a humble background to establish a permanent presence in local and national politics. He was born on March 19, 1923, in Kasiram village of Kaliganj Upazila, which was then part of the Bengal Presidency. He was born into an ordinary farmer's family, which makes the story of his rise even more significant.

His father’s name was Moulvi Azim Uddin Ahmad, and his mother’s name was Nesabi Bewa. Notably, his prominent son, Nuruzzaman Ahmed, who later became a minister and Member of Parliament, mentioned his mother's name as Noor Jahan Begum, which may indicate two different names or titles for the same person. Throughout a successful career, he laid the foundation for an influential political family in the Kaliganj region. His illustrious life came to a close on August 28, 1991, when he passed away at the age of 68 at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

Karim Uddin Ahmed’s educational journey was a blend of the customary streams of rural society of that era. For conventional primary education, he enrolled in Nilambar Pandit's Pathshala in Madanpur Bairati. These traditional learning centres helped him acquire foundational knowledge. Additionally, he was keen on religious education and obtained a Khariji degree from Chilakhal Paikan Madrasa in Gangachara, reflecting the profound influence of religious values on his life and work. His institutional education concluded at Tushbhandar High School, where he studied up to the tenth grade. This multifaceted educational structure, encompassing a traditional pathshala, a religious madrasa, and a modern high school, helped him connect with people from all social strata and understand their needs. This experience profoundly influenced his later philosophy of educational expansion, which led to the establishment of modern schools, colleges, and madrasas simultaneously.

His professional life began with immense hard work and integrity. Around 1945, he started his career by taking a job at a Marwari business establishment. This experience helped him understand the complexities of the commercial world. Within a short time, he started his own business with minimal capital and quickly gained recognition as a successful entrepreneur.

The key to his rapid commercial success was his 'unfailing honesty and trustworthiness'. Despite being born into an ordinary farmer's family, he earned the confidence of various circles through his ethics and reliable conduct. This social capital was his foundation. He was not limited to being just a local businessman; his jute and tobacco trade expanded to critical commercial hubs in the then East Pakistan and India, including Kolkata, Bhairab, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Jhalokathi, Khulna, and Sylhet. This substantial commercial base provided him with financial independence, enabling him to establish an essential school in 1959, relying solely on his resources, and commit himself to long-term public service starting in 1954. This economic rise later created the financial foundation for his political life.^[4]

Alhaj Karim Uddin Ahmed began his political career with a spirit of independence. In his youth, he actively participated in the 'Quit India' movement against the British. In this movement, he served as a key associate of Mukunda Das and a volunteer. His courage was evident when he joined the movement to stop tax collection in the Tushbhandar market, which led to his arrest.^[5]

This active participation demonstrates that his political ideology and spirit of sacrifice were firmly established even before India's independence in 1947. This history of sacrifice for ordinary people, as a grassroots leader, made him indispensable in local politics later on and laid the foundation for his public support.

The ideal of sacrifice he demonstrated in the Anti-British movement provided him with the opportunity to engage in public service. In 1954, he formally dedicated himself to public service by being elected to the Union Board. He served in this local government position with honesty and dedication for 16 consecutive years.

His continuous 16-year leadership in local government not only indicates his sustained popularity but also testifies to his profound role in bringing the local administration closer to the people. During this period, he was nominated as Secretary of the Kaliganj Development Council, a body formed during the East Pakistan era. He was honored with the 'Governor's Award' for his significant contributions to development activities. That a leader who was arrested for opposing tax collection under the British later received the 'Governor's Award' for local development work represents a rare integration of influence and acceptability within the local government structure during the Pakistan period. This extensive experience at the grassroots level provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic issues in the Kaliganj region, which subsequently enabled him to establish educational institutions and provide strategic leadership during the Liberation War.

Following 16 years of successful and people-oriented leadership in local government, Alhaj Karim Uddin Ahmed gained the opportunity to enter national politics. His long public service and political sacrifice were recognized in the 1970 general election when he was elected as a Member of the Pakistan Provincial Assembly on the Awami League ticket.

The 1970 election marked a pivotal moment in Bangladesh's struggle for independence. His election at this time was not merely a personal achievement but also reflected the deep public trust in the Awami League, based on the Six Points, even in the rural communities of Northern Bengal. This political victory provided a strong foundation for his leadership in the Great Liberation War of 1971.

When the Liberation War began in 1971, Karim Uddin Ahmed leveraged his newly acquired political influence and local connections to play a key role in organizing the war. He assumed the responsibility of the President of the Kaliganj Sangram Parishad and emerged as one of the key leaders of the Liberation War.

His most significant strategic contribution was that he did not just form a Mukti Bahini consisting of political activists; instead, he created a military wing by coordinating former EPR, Ansar, and police officials. This shows that his local influence extended beyond the civilian administration. His own residence served as the main headquarters for the Mukti Bahini. Due to his organizational capacity, the Kaliganj area remained a 'Free Area' for four long months of the war, where local youths were regularly trained.

During this period, he hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at a massive public rally organized in the Kaliganj field. This was an extremely risky and open declaration of rebellion, possible only with deep trust in the local grassroots leadership.

Later, when the Pakistani forces occupied Kaliganj, he took refuge in Sitai Thana of Cooch Behar District in neighboring India for strategic reasons. With the consent of the local authorities, he established two training camps there and organized Bangladeshi youths to provide training for the Liberation War. This step confirms that he was not only a local leader but also played a crucial role in both India and Bangladesh as an organizer of the Northern Mukti Bahini on behalf of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh. This organizational role connected his local leadership with the central structure of the Liberation War.

After achieving independence, Karim Uddin Ahmed's leadership focused on rebuilding the devastated Kaliganj in post-war Bangladesh. He played a singular and pioneering role in restoring the region's infrastructure and normalizing public life.

The highest recognition of his national political life came in 1973. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the first Jatiya Sangsad of independent Bangladesh from the Rangpur-6 constituency as a candidate of the Bangladesh Awami League. This election proved that his popularity, stemming from his wartime role, remained intact from the grassroots to the national level.

Karim Uddin Ahmed was known as a close political associate of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of Bangladesh's independence and then-Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Post-war reconstruction (1972-75) and achieving stability in Bangladesh were the primary challenges for the Awami League government. As a successful grassroots organizer, he held deep acceptability within the central leadership.

His role as a close associate of Bangabandhu confirms his importance to the central leadership. This connection enabled him to secure the necessary assistance for rebuilding the devastated Kaliganj and play a commendable role in the area's development. His election from Rangpur-6 in 1973, and later his son Nuruzzaman Ahmed's leadership in the Lalmonirhat-2 constituency, marked the beginning of this family's long-term political influence in Northern Bengal, the foundation of which was laid by Alhaj Karim Uddin Ahmed.

The central aspect of Alhaj Karim Uddin Ahmed's public service was his deep passion for education. He believed that to sustain long-term political influence, investment in human resource development was essential, not just infrastructural development. From this philosophy, he established several educational institutions during his lifetime. The institutions he founded have established him as a lasting philanthropist, whose impact continues across generations.

A chronological list of his notable established institutions is presented below:

Table 2: Educational and Philanthropic Institutions Founded

The timing of these establishments (1959, 1972, 1973) is critical. The establishment of a High School in 1959 shows that building educational infrastructure was his primary goal, even before he entered national politics. The rapid establishment of a Degree College (1972) and a Madrasa/Primary School (1973) demonstrates his foresight in quickly providing an educational foundation to post-war Kaliganj. He is revered not only as a founder but also as a benefactor to countless schools and madrasas in the Upazila.

Karim Uddin Ahmed was not only a political leader or an education enthusiast; he also harbored a deep passion for literature and culture. His public service was not limited to infrastructural development but also included a strong interest in preserving the regional heritage and culture of Northern Bengal.

He provided financial support for printing the research work 'Uttor Banglar Lokshahitya O Bhasha' (Folklore and Language of Northern Bengal), authored by Dharmanarayan Sarkar Bhaktishastri, a renowned researcher in folklore and regional languages. This patronage reflects a far-sighted, culturally-aware local leader who understood the value of literature and research.

Alhaj Karim Uddin Ahmed is the founder of an influential family. His capable children have made significant contributions to various vital sectors of the country. His notable children include:

1. Shamsun Nahar Atiq: The eldest daughter, currently residing in America.

4. Nurun Nahar Anwar: Daughter, the wife of Professor Dr. Anwar Hossain,

former Chairman of 'IBA' at Dhaka University, and currently

The Vice-Chancellor of Northern University.

5. Jahanara Iqbal: Daughter, the wife of Mr. Iqbal Hossain, a retired Deputy Secretary.

6. Rowshan Ara Ahmed (China): Daughter, the wife of Mr. Altaf Hossain Chowdhury,

a prominent businessman and Rotarian in Rangpur. She is a teacher at Rangpur

Collectorate School and College, a member of the Rangpur Metropolitan Awami League,

and the General Secretary of the Rangpur District Women's Sports Association.

7. Zinnat Ara: Daughter, the wife of Dr. Hafizur Rahman (retired).

8. Samsuzzaman Ahmed: Son, a prominent businessman and patron of various educational

institutions.

9. Mahbubuzzaman Ahmed: Son, he served as the Chairman of the Tushbhandar Union

Served as a Parishad member for 20 years and is the Chairman of the Kaliganj Upazila Parishad.

10. Khurshiduzzaman Ahmed: Son, the Headmaster of Kaliganj Karim Uddin Public

Pilot High School.

11. Anjuman Ara Zahid: Daughter, the wife of the late Jahid Hasan, a central-level official

of 'Delta Life Insurance'.

12. Ishmat Ara Zui: Daughter, Deputy Manager of the Administration Department at the

Head Office of Jiban Bima Corporation. She is the wife of Professor Dr. Anisur Rahman,

former Chairman of the Marketing Department at Dhaka University.

13. Wahiduzzaman Ahmed: Son, the Regional Director of the Rangpur Regional Resource Center at Bangladesh Open University (BOU).

Ahmed died in Rangpur Medical College Hospital on 28 August 1991.^[2] He is survived by his son, Nuruzzaman Ahmed, who was the former Minister of Social Welfare.^[6]