Zafar Imam is a

Bangladesh Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...

politician and a former minister of

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is an Government of India, Indian government Ministry (government department), ministry. The ministry Portfolio (government), portfolio is currently held by Bhupender Yadav, Union ...

, and a former member of parliament for

Feni-1 Feni-1 is a constituency of the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) of Bangladesh. Since 6 August 2024, the seat has been vacant. Boundaries The constituency encompasses Chhagalnaiya, Fulgazi, and Parshuram upazilas. History The constitu ...

Early life and education

He was born on 13 December 1948 in

Feni District Feni District () is a coastal Districts of Bangladesh, district situated in the south-east of Bangladesh, within Chittagong Division. One of Bangladesh's smallest districts, it is strategically located along the N1 (Bangladesh), Dhaka–Chittago ...

. He passed SSC from

Feni Government Pilot High School Feni Government Pilot High School (FGPHS, ) is a secondary school in Feni Sadar, Feni District Feni District () is a coastal Districts of Bangladesh, district situated in the south-east of Bangladesh, within Chittagong Division. One of Bangla ...

in 1963. He completed HSC from Feni Government College in 1965. He joined the

Pakistan Military Academy Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) is a military academy located nearby Kakul village in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Established in October 1947, it is the only service academy in Pakistan that trains cadets to serve as army of ...

in 1966 while studying in

Dhaka University The University of Dhaka (), also known as Dhaka University (DU), is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Established in 1921, it is the oldest active university in the country. The University of Dhaka was founded in 1921 ...

.https://songramernotebook.com/archives/499266

Military career

Pakistan Army

Imam was commissioned in April 1967 in the 9th Frontier Force Regiment. He served in 9th

Frontier Force Regiment The Frontier Force Regiment is one of the six infantry regiments of the Pakistan Army. They are popularly known as the ''Piffers'' in reference to their military history as the PIF (Punjab Irregular Force) of the British Indian Army, or as the ...

till 1970. In late 1970, he was transferred to 24th Frontier Force Regiment. In 1971 he was posted to the 24 Frontier Force Regiment as a captain in Comilla Cantonment.

Bangladesh Army

After the crackdown he left the Pakistan Army and joined the Mukti Bahini.He fought in Sector 2 and served there as a Sub Sector Commander. In October when K Force was formed then he was promoted to the rank of Major and was appointed as the founding commanding officer of 10 East Bengal Regiment.He was awarded Bir Bikram for his role during the war. He served as the Provost Marshal of Bangladesh Army. Later he was appointed as the commanding officer of 15th East Bengal Regiment in Rangpur Cantonment. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1975. He went to retirement in 1976.

Political career

In 1980 Imam joined the cabinet of Ziaur Rahman. After the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman he joined the cabinet of President Abdus Sattar as a minister of state and was given the charge of Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. He served there till 24 March 1982.Later he joined the Jatiya Party and was elected to parliament from

in 1986. He was re-elected from Feni-1.On 23 December 1989 he joined the cabinet of President Hussein Mohammad Ershad and took charge as the minister of environment forest and climate change. He served until the government fell down in late 1990. Imam contested the 1991 election from Feni-1 as a candidate of the Jatiya Party but lost to Prime Minister

Khaleda Zia Begum Khaleda Zia (born August–September 1945) is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the prime minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006. She was the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and the second fema ...

. The Awami League had nominated Md. Zakaria Bhuiyan who also lost. Imam contested the 1996 election from Feni-1 as a candidate of the Jatiya Party but came a distant third behind Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Imam contested the 2001 election from

as a candidate of the

Awami League The Awami League, officially known as Bangladesh Awami League, is a major List of political parties in Bangladesh, political party in Bangladesh. The oldest existing political party in the country, the party played the leading role in achievin ...

but lost to Prime Minister

Personal life

He was married to Nurmahal Begum.

References

Awami League politicians Living people 2nd Jatiya Sangsad members Mukti Bahini personnel Bangladeshi lieutenant colonels People from Fulgazi Upazila Politicians from Chittagong Division 1947 births 3rd Jatiya Sangsad members 4th Jatiya Sangsad members Jatiya Party (Ershad) politicians Feni Government College alumni Feni Government Pilot High School alumni {{Chittagong-AL-politician-stub