Mohiuddin Ahmed, first diplomat in Europe to pledge allegiance to Bangladesh in 1971, dies aged 80

Former secretary Mohiuddin Ahmed, the first Bangladeshi diplomat in Europe to defect from Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War, has died at the age of 80.

He breathed his last at his home in Dhaka's Uttara on Monday evening, his wife Bilkis Mohiuddin said. "He is no more. He has left us," she told bdnews24.com.

Mohiuddin returned home four days ago following his treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University for three weeks.

He was suffering from liver cirrhosis, kidney complications and diabetes, his brother Ziauddin Ahmed said.

In a condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remembered Mohiuddin's role in building international support for Bangladesh in 1971. She also extended sympathy to his family. The retired diplomat is survived by his wife and two daughters.

"Mohiuddin Bhai was a fearless freedom fighter in our War of Independence. The nation has lost an invaluable person in his death," Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said in another message.

Retired diplomat Mohiuddin Ahmed (left) speaks to Awami League leader and Minister Dipu Moni (centre) and bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi (right) at the news publisher's 8th anniversary celebrations on Oct 23, 2014.

Then a second secretary at the Pakistan High Commission in London, Mohiuddin expressed his allegiance to Bangladesh by addressing a public gathering at Trafalgar Square on Aug 1, 1971.

It was a huge protest rally that was held under the banner, "Stop Genocide: Recognise Bangladesh".

The large gathering was addressed by Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury and demanded peace and justice in Bangladesh.

Recalling the day, Mohiuddin said in an interview, "There was a much expected commotion [after he pledged allegiance to Bangladesh]. It was one of the best days of my life."

Mohiuddin had maintained close contact with Justice Chowdhury since April, and worked according to his advice even when he remained within the fold of the Pakistan government.

He played a crucial role in galvanising the expatriate Bengali community in England. Several other diplomats followed Mohiuddin quickly. All these had a ripple effect all over the world to gather support for Bangladesh.

In an interview a few years ago, Mohiuddin said they waged a war on the diplomatic front for independence in 1971 and won it.

Mohiuddin was among those who received Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Heathrow Airport after the Father of the Nation returned home via London following his release from a Pakistani jail after independence.  

Mohiuddin said he burst into tears seeing Bangabandhu. The Father of the Nation embraced him and said, "No worries. I am here."

In independent Bangladesh, however, Mohiuddin's career was like a see-saw ride. He was transferred from the foreign ministry to another ministry during HM Ershad's regime. The BNP government sacked him.

After Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina had taken charge, the government reinstated his job and made him secretary.

Following his retirement in 2001, Mohiuddin started writing columns regularly on the Liberation War, economic affairs, foreign policy, poverty and development in Bangla and English.

bdnews24.com has published a number of his columns. He also joined the news publisher's 8th anniversary celebrations in 2014.

Born in Feni's Fulgazi on Jun 19, 1942, Mohiuddin studied at a school established by his father Abdur Rashid. After completing higher secondary education, he studied economics at Dhaka University. He then received his post-graduate degree from Karachi University and return home.

At first he started working as a lecturer of Feni College. He joined the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics later. In 1967, he started his career in diplomacy after passing Pakistan Civil Service exams.   

In an interview, Mohiuddin recalled how his career suffered after the 1975 assassination of Bangabandhu. The new government brought him back to Dhaka from Geneva at that time.

After serving as a director at the foreign ministry for three years, he was sent to Indonesia and then to Jeddah. He returned home again in 1985 and worked at the ministry in different capacities until he was transferred to the agriculture ministry in 1987. After two and a half more years, he was transferred to the industries ministry.

Following Ershad's ouster, Mohiuddin was brought back to the foreign ministry as the deputy permanent representative to the UN in New York.

Ten months later, the BNP government brought him back to Dhaka again for keeping Bangabandhu's photo. The Khaleda Zia administration sacked him after four more months.

As the proceedings of a case started by him against his removal were ongoing, the Awami League returned to power in 1996 and offered him ambassadorship, but he declined the proposal and stood by his demand for reinstatement of his job.

He was later made principal of the Foreign Service Academy with the rank of a secretary. He retired in 2001 as secretary.

Tributes poured in for Mohiuddin on social media as the news of his death spread. "He journeys to the realm of stars tonight. His patriotism was unmatched, his diplomacy rested on principle, his courage of speaking truth to power shamed oleaginous men, his role in the making of national history is a narrative that did, and does, us proud. His life was our moral compass. Farewell, brave keeper of Bangladesh's conscience!" journalist and columnist Syed Badrul Ahsan wrote in a Facebook post.