Oli Ahmed Explains Why He Fell Out with B. Chowdhury

Photo: Collected

Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed and Professor Dr A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury were both prominent figures in BNP politics for decades. Badruddoza Chowdhury was even elected president of Bangladesh with BNP’s support before being forced to resign amid political developments. Oli Ahmed also later left the BNP following differences with the party.

The two subsequently joined hands to form the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), although Badruddoza Chowdhury had earlier founded Bikalpadhara Bangladesh.

Speaking about the circumstances behind the formation of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh and the LDP, Oli Ahmed said they had decided to form a separate political party because they could no longer see eye to eye with the BNP. However, Badruddoza Chowdhury formed Bikalpadhara before they could implement their joint decision.

Oli made the remarks while appearing on journalist and presenter Khaled Muhiuddin’s talk show ‘Thikana’ on Wednesday.

Oli said Badruddoza Chowdhury had spoken to him and that the three of them—Badruddoza, Sheikh Razzaq and Oli—had held a meeting. They decided that since they were having differences with the BNP for various reasons, they would form a separate party.

Explaining the reasons behind their growing distance from the BNP, Oli said they wanted those involved in corruption to be jailed, wanted protests against corruption and wanted extortionists within the party to be expelled. When these measures were not taken, they decided to form a separate political party, he said.

However, Badruddoza Chowdhury formed Bikalpadhara before that decision could be implemented, Oli said. Later, after Badruddoza was injured and fled along a railway line while being chased by BNP activists, Brigadier Gias was sent to Oli on his behalf.

Recalling the incident, Oli said Brigadier Gias told him that Badruddoza was mentally devastated and wanted to meet him. Oli said he agreed to visit Badruddoza’s dispensary after midnight rather than his home, as Badruddoza was under surveillance at the time. He went there accompanied by Razzaq Ali.

During the meeting, Oli reminded Badruddoza of their earlier plan to form a new political party. According to Oli, Badruddoza then proposed the name ‘Liberal Democratic Party’, or LDP.

Oli said Badruddoza told him that he, Major Mannan, Dhaka University Professor Patwari and others would join the LDP. They later joined the party, he added.

However, Oli claimed that misunderstandings began between them from the outset. “We were made to believe that they had an office. Later, I found that it was actually his residence, which was later burned down. We were deceived at the very beginning,” he said.

Oli said he had told Badruddoza that, as a former president, he would attend various events as the chief guest while the party’s organisational activities would be left to others. Badruddoza had agreed to the arrangement, he claimed.

Oli also said Badruddoza’s son, Mahi B. Chowdhury, was largely responsible for creating distance between the two leaders. According to Oli, Mahi told his father at the time that Oli was receiving more coverage on television and in the media and that Badruddoza needed to come into the spotlight. Oli said they also accepted this proposal from Badruddoza and Mahi.

A major disagreement later emerged between the two over seat-sharing negotiations with the Awami League ahead of the 2008 general election, Oli claimed.

According to Oli, the Awami League had agreed to leave 28 constituencies for the LDP, but Badruddoza Chowdhury negotiated over a particular constituency.

Oli alleged that after accusations of financial transactions emerged over the seat, LDP leaders asked Badruddoza to leave the party.

“We told him, ‘You are a respected person. We do not want to humiliate you. Please separate yourself from the party. You can return to Bikalpadhara under your sheaf-of-paddy symbol. Because you have committed corruption, we will not do politics with a corrupt person,’” Oli said.

The allegations are Oli Ahmed’s account of the events; the report does not include a response from Badruddoza Chowdhury or his family.