Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid
Former Secretary General, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
&
Former Minister of Social Welfare
Governments of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid has been considered as one of the key figure in the politics of Bangladesh, who played an outstanding role to form the 4 party alliances based on the spirit of Nationalism and Islamic values. 4 party alliances commenced new phase of politics, as it accommodate the majority of the population under a same platform. He is renowned for his bold steps and dynamic role in all the democratic movements of the country including the movement against the autocratic ruler Ershad and the movement for introducing non-party caretaker government system. Local media uphold a heroic image of this leader during the state of emergency in 2007, as he was the one of the visible political figure at that time to carry the regular political activities to restore the democratic political system in the country.
Education: Born on 1st January 1948, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid learned his primary education under the tutorship and guidance of his father, renowned scholar and religious saint of the region, Late Maulana Abdul Ali. Maulana Abdul Ali is being remembered by the people as a great saint in Faridpur. Not only that he was a struggling leader and was elected MPA (Member of Provincial Assembly) in 1965.
Later, he formally admitted in Faridpur Moijuddin High School and then Faridpur Zilla School. After completion of his Secondary education he was admitted into Rajendra College and completed Higher Secondary and Secondary and graduation degree from the same institution. He obtained MA in Political Science from Chitttagong University.
Extra Curricular Activities: He had been actively involved in Islamic and social works since he was a student of class eight. He was closely involved with the Islamic student movement.
Early career: Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid started his professional career as the principal of the Narayanganj Ideal School. Right now, he is discharging his duties as the chairman of the Bangladesh publications. He is also the chairman of the board of directors of oldest Bengali daily, the daily Sangram and the director of weekly Sonar Bangla. For last two years, he has been came up as the editor of another English daily named ‘The Rising Sun’.
Career in Islamic Movement: Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid joined Jamaat-e-Islami after completion of his student life. He served as Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka City Unit as well as a member of Central Executive Committee from 1982 to 1989. He also served as Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami from 1989 to 2000. On 8th December, 2000, he became the Secretary General and successfully discharging these duties till date.
Mr. Mujahid joined Jamaat-e-Islami after completion of his student life. He served as Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka City Unit as well as a member of the Central Executive Committee from 1982 to 1989. He also served as Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami from 1989 to 2000. On 8th December, 2000, he became the Secretary General and since then he has been successfully discharging these duties.
Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid has been involved with the mainstream Islamic politics for years. As a Muslim, he sincerely tries to follow the ideals of the holy prophet Hazrat Mohammad (peace be upon him) and lead a very simple life. He has served the nation as the Minister for Social Welfare from 2001 to 2006. In his 5 years tenure, not a single allegation of corruption has been made against him. No allegation of forgery or misappropriation has been brought against him. There is no allegation of power abuse as well. The allegations brought against the accused petitioner just in order to tarnish his and his party image.
National politics: He is a staunch advocate for democracy. In the past he actively participated in all political and democratic movements, mass movement of 1969 and mass movement against autocratic government in 1990 and movement for holding election under Caretaker Government from 1994 to 1996. He is still playing significant roles for strengthening the democratic process in the country.
• Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid took part in the parliament election for 3 times. He has been declared winner in the 1986 parliament election, but the then autocratic ruler finally hijacked the victory and through conducting some administrative irregularities elected his party nominee victorious in that election. Mr. Mujahid also performed duties as the district minister in charge for Madaripur district. He personally supervised various social and economical development projects in the district.
Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid is the Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the biggest Islamic political party of the country. The party has played a significant role in all the democratic and political movements of the country. Jamaat-e-Islami had a regular representation in the Parliament since its function in the independent Bangladesh. As the key political component, Jamat-e-Islami and its leaders had developed a sustainable relationship with other political parties including the ruling Awami League. During the anti-autocratic movement, Awami League and Jamaat had worked together. So certainly Jamat should be given that credit to back the country in the democratic track in 1990. Jamat as a party is the founder of the caretaker government under which the first free and uncontroversial election held in 1991. After that election, the country faced a severe political stalemate as no party could achieve brute majority. Both Awami League and BNP sought the support of Jamat-e-Islami in forming the government. From Awami League, the then Presidium Member and the now the Advisory Council member Amir Hossen Amu called on Mr. Mujahid, who was then the Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami. He offered the posts of 3 cabinet ministers, several state ministers and at least 07 women reserve seats in the Parliament in exchange of the support of Jamaat. Though Jamat supported BNP at that time to form the government but the intimacy between Jamat-e-Islami and Awami League became stronger during the movement for caretaker government system.
• Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid has been considered as one of the key figure in the politics of Bangladesh, who played an outstanding role to form the 4 party alliances based on the spirit of Nationalism and Islamic values. 4 party alliances commenced new phase of politics, as it accommodate the majority of the population under a same platform. He is renowned for his bold steps and dynamic role in all the democratic movements of the country including the movement against the autocratic ruler Ershad and the movement for introducing non-party caretaker government system. Local media uphold a heroic image of this leadership during the state of emergency in 2007, as he was the one of the visible political figure at that time to carry the regular political activities to restore the democratic political system in the country.
He was also involved in following national committees:
• Member, National Economic Council,
• Member, Executive Committee on National Economic Council,
• Member, National Women Development Council,
• Member, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,
• Member, Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase,
• Member, Cabinet Committee on Women Rights,
• Member, Jail Reform Committee
• Member, National Purchase committee
• Member, National Committee against acid and drug prevention
• Member, National Committee on Micro credit
• Member, National Committee on Old Age allowances
• Member, National Committee on preventing Adolescence Crimes
He was sworn in as a minister for Social Welfare on 10th October 2001 and successfully discharged his duties until the end of the then government’s tenure.
Social Work: Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid has gained a good reputation of a selfless social worker. He contributed to the establishment and development of countless educational institutes, religions and cultural centers and Mosques across the country. In his constituency of Faridpur alone, he establishes more than 50 mosques. He played an important role in establishment of the right of the Madrasah, religious institutes’, students. Because of his effort, in 2002, the then coalition government recognized Fadil (B.A) and Kamil (MA) degrees of Madrasha Education Board. He is also actively involved in numerous socio-educational and research organizations. During his tenure as a cabinet minister, the infrastructural development of the most undeveloped and neglected region Faridpur and Madaripur district was built up in the real sense of the term. Countless roads, highways, schools, colleges, Madrasahs, culverts, bridges, mosques etc.
were set up, developed and repaired. He inaugurated the Haji Shariatulla bridge and a divisional social service center at Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district. Mr. Mujahid has traveled all the districts and made surprise visits in his institutions. He had curbed the rate of corruption of his ministerial officials by these tours. He also established Shishu Shodon (Orphanage) for both boys and girls in 64 districts in his tenure, which helped to bring the under-privileged and impoverished section of the society to come forth. When he started his job at social welfare ministry, it was regarded then as a low profile ministry. But ultimately, it turned into high profile one, as its budget and total allotment was rapidly increased in 5 years due to his efficiency and dynamic leadership.
The ministry arranged more than 35 big programs in 5 years, in which the Prime Minister of the Government of the people’s republic of Bangladesh attended and extended her hands of cooperation and guidance. Under his leadership, the first ever fair for the disabled section held in the capital in 2004. He also inaugurated a safe drinking water named ‘Mukta’ which was manufactured, commercialized by the disabled. The incomes of the water bottle item are being expended for the welfare of the disabled people as well.
Publication: Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid is also a well reputed and popular author. Till now he has authored 3 valuable books which are highly praised by the readers. The books are
• Ajker Musolman Islamer Dabi (Today’s Muslim and the demand of Islam),
• Bishshobapi Islami Andolon o Jamaat-e-Islami (Influence of Jamaat-e-Islami on world wide Islamic Movement),
• Turoshko Sofor (My recent visit to Turkey)
Some of his publications have been translated into English. He also wrote many articles on Islamic teachings, socio-economic and political issues in various newspapers, journals and periodicals.
Movement for Muslim Ummah: Regardless of his preoccupation he travelled about 20 countries across the world, met dignitaries and Ulama and played his part for the causes of Muslim Ummah. The countries, he visited include, among others,: Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, France, United States, Canada, Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Thailand and Turkey.
Marital Status: Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid married Tamanna-E-Jahan on 18th October 1973. Mrs. Tamanna-E-Jahan obtained her graduate degree from Dhaka University. At present she is the assistant Secretary of Jamaat woman wing Dhaka city unit. She is also a member of Dhaka city Jamaat Majlis-e-Shoora & also central Women Majlis-e-Shoora. Tamanna-E-Jahan is a housewife with a studious mind, who read, writes and research on various contemporary issues. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Mrs. Tamanna-E-Jahan are blessed with 3 sons and a daughter.