Zia Ahmed
Zia Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 July 1954 |
| Died | 11 September 2012 (aged 58) United Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Buried | Banani Military Graveyard |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
Branch |  Bangladesh Army |
Service years | 1975–2009 |
Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Corps of Signals |
| Commands |
|
Conflicts | ONUMOZ |
Zia Ahmed psc (26 July 1954 – 11 September 2012) was a major general of the Bangladesh Army and chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.[1][2]
Early life
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
Ahmed was commissioned in the Signals Corps of the Bangladesh Army in 1975.[4]
Ahmed had served in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique.[4]
Ahmed was sent into forced retirement from the Bangladesh Army during the 2001 to 2006 Bangladesh Nationalist Party government with the rank of brigadier general.[3] After the Awami League came to power in 2009, Ahmed was promoted to major general and appointed chairman of the 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 launch of 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 that 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 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
Ahmed died on 11 September 2012 in United Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.[3] He was buried in Banani Military Graveyard.[4]
References
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "BTRC chief Zia Ahmed passes away". The Daily Star. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- 1 2 3 "BTRC chief Zia Ahmed buried". bdnews24.com. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ↑ "Zia Ahmed set for BTRC job". bdnews24.com. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ↑ "Zia Ahmed made BTRC chairman". bdnews24.com. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ↑ International, Space Partnership (30 March 2012). "Bangabandhu Satellite for The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- ↑ "EXCLUSIVEGP must pay: BTRC chief". bdnews24.com. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
- 1 2 3 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.