11-party alliance names Colonel Oli Ahmed as presidential candidate

The 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has announced the name of Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram as the presidential candidate. 

He is the president of the Liberal Democratic Party, a partner of the 11-party alliance. 

Oli’s name was finalised at a meeting of the 11 parties at the residence of the opposition leader on Minto Road on Sunday. 

Jamaat amir Shafiqur Rahman later announced it in a briefing.

At the press conference after the meeting, opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said, “We have nominated the best person from our side for the post of president. Everyone will pray for him.” 

At the press conference, NCP convener Nahid Islam said, “The decision to nominate Colonel Oli Ahmed was finalised in a meeting of top leaders of 11 parties. All parties have given their consent to this matter.” 

Colonel Oli, a companion of late president Ziaur Rahman, was a founding member of BNP. 

He participated in the Liberation War under Ziaur Rahman. Colonel Oli was also a minister in President Zia’s government. He was also a minister in Khaleda Zia’s first government. 

In 2001, he was elected as a member of parliament from Chittagong-13 constituency. Although he won from Chittagong-13 constituency, he lost to Jamaat’s Shahjahan Chowdhury in that election. Although there was an alliance of BNP-Jamaat across the country in that election, Chittagong-14 was open to both parties. 

In 2001, Colonel Oli did not get a place in the cabinet of Khaleda Zia’s government.

In 2006, Colonel Oli left BNP and formed the Liberal Democratic Party. At that time, 32 BNP MPs left the party with him, which was the biggest break in the history of BNP. 

Colonel Oli won the election alone in 2008. In 2012, he joined the BNP alliance at the call of Khaleda Zia. 

Colonel Oli’s Liberal Democratic Party joined the Jamaat alliance before the 13th parliamentary elections due to tension over seats.