Zia Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 July 1954 |
| Died | 11 September 2012(2012-09-11) (aged 58) United Hospital,Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Buried | Banani Army Graveyard |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
| Branch |  Bangladesh Army |
| Years of service | 1975–2009 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Unit | Corps of Signals |
| Commands |
|
| Battles / wars | ONUMOZ |
Zia Ahmed psc (born 26 July 1954 - died 11 September 2012) was a major general of theBangladesh Army and former chairman ofBangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.[1][2]
Ahmed was born on 26 July 1954 inSujanagar Upazila,Pabna District,East Pakistan, Pakistan.[3] His father wasSarder Jayenuddin, a notable poet.[3] He graduated fromTejgaon Polytechnic High School andNotre Dame College, Dhaka.[3]
Ahmed was commissioned in the Signals Corps of Bangladesh Army in 1975.[4]
Ahmed had served in theUnited Nations Operation in Mozambique.[4]
Ahmed was sent into forced retirement from Bangladesh Army during the 2001 to 2006Bangladesh Nationalist Party government with the rank of brigadier general.[3]AfterAwami League came to power in 2009, Ahmed was promoted to major general and appointment chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission in February 2009.[3] He replaced Major GeneralManzurul Alam.[5] He was appointed on a three-year contract.[6] He signed the agreement for the launch of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission'sBangabandhu Satellite.[7] He had demanded 30 billion taka in taxes fromGrameenphone, 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 GeneralHarun-Ar-Rashid which criticised the political statements issued by former Army officers in favor of former Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia.[10] He also briefly blocked Facebook that year in Bangladesh.[11]
Ahmed made the pulse rate for cellphone operators at 10 seconds.[9] He struggled with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology over organizational jurisdiction harming ties between the two entities.[9]
Ahmed died on 11 September 2012 inUnited Hospital,Dhaka,Bangladesh.[3] He was buried in Banani Army Graveyard.[4]