A. T. M. Wali Ashraf
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A. T. M. Wali Ashraf | |
|---|---|
| Member of Bangladesh Parliament | |
| In office 1988–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Sahidur Rahman |
| Succeeded by | Shahjahan Hawlader Sujan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 8, 1937 Domrakandi, Bancharampur, Brahmanbaria |
| Died | November 19, 1994 (aged 57) [1] Dhaka, Bangladesh CMH Hospital, Dhaka |
| Party | Bangladesh Nationalist Party |
A. T. M. Wali Ashraf (8 September 1937 – 19 November 1994) was a politician from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and a member of parliament for Brahmanbaria-6.[2][3]
Born on 8 September 1937 in the village of Domrakandi, Bancharampur, Brahmanbaria, Ashraf was the second of eight children and the oldest son. His father, Atiq Ullah, worked for the Railways Ministry and was initially based in Kolkata. His mother, Nurjahan Begum, was the daughter of the local zamindar. Additionally, his parents had four other children who died at birth.[citation needed]
Ashraf was reportedly an energetic child who possessed leadership qualities, which were quickly recognized by his maternal uncle, Dr. Shamsul Alam of Gouripur, during his visits to his sister's house. Alam's devotion to education and civic reform had a lasting influence on Ashraf's life and philosophy. At the age of 7, Ashraf left his parents' home to live with his uncle. When he turned 16, he graduated from school and went on to study at B.M. College in Barisal. He was later admitted to the University of Dhaka in the Department of Bengali.[citation needed]
At Dhaka University, Ashraf served as the Secretary General of the Pak Students Work Camp Association and was the editor of The Mission, the monthly bulletin of the association. He was a student of S.M. Hall at Dhaka University. The Pak Students Work Camp Association was formed on 7 April 1963.[citation needed]
Faqir (Beggars) Samity
Together with young Bengali students, Ashraf led a socio-cultural group that visited the residences of Bengali expatriates in England, singing traditional songs.[4] The group's name was derived from their practice of visiting members' homes and singing familiar songs of Bangladeshi beggars. These songs included phrases like "Shono Momin Musalmana, Kari Aami Nibedana, E Dunia Fana Habe Jene Janona" (Listen, O faithful Muslims, you know it but do not admit that this world will be destroyed one day). Another song they sang was "Diner Nabi Mastofae, Rasta Diya Haitta Jae, Rastai Chhila Harin Bandha Gachher-i Tolai" (The great Prophet of the true religion walked down the road beside which was a tree to which a deer was tied with a rope). When group members visited a home and sang these beggars' songs, the household was expected to host a feast of fine rice cooked in clarified butter and lamb curry the following weekend. This tradition helped foster close camaraderie and a sense of fellowship among the group members.[5]
Janomot First Bengali Newsweekly
He played a pivotal role in London during the Bangladesh Independence War in 1971. His Bengali newsweekly, Janomot[6][7] (established in London on 21 February 1969 and recognized as the first Bengali newspaper printed outside Bangladesh), motivated Bengalis living in London to fight for independence. A. T. M. Wali Ashraf was the founding editor of Janomot, which began in his home at 2 Temperley Road, Balham, London. The Janomot office was later relocated to Unit 2, 20b Spelman Street, Spitalfields & Bangla Town, London E1 5LQ.
His residence at 2 Temperley Road, London, was also the birthplace of the first Bangladesh Biman Office (Bangladesh Airlines) in the city.[citation needed]
In the 1960s and 70s, A. T. M. Wali Ashraf, Zakaria Ahmed, and other Bengalis instilled fear in the Pakistani rulers from London. He spoke about the independence of Bangladesh while sitting in London and occupied the Pakistan High Commission building to announce the independence of Bengal. He was the first to take the initiative to save Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the Agartala conspiracy case. In response to their strong agitation and resistance, Pakistan President Field Marshal Ayub Khan, who was visiting London, escaped through the back door of the hotel.[citation needed]