A. T. M. Wali Ashraf

A. T. M. Wali Ashraf was a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and the former Member of Parliament of Brahmanbaria-6.

Born on 8 September 1937, in the village of Domrakandi, Bancharampur, Brahmanbaria, Ashraf was the second of eight children and oldest son. His father, Atiq Ullah, worked for the Railways Ministry and was based initially in Kolkata. His mother, Nurjahan Begum, was the daughter of the local Zamindar. His parents also had four other children who died at birth.

Ashraf was reportedly an energetic child, who possessed leadership qualities. This was quickly recognized by his maternal uncle, Dr. Shamsul Alam of Gouripur, when he visited his sister's house. Alam's devotion to education and civic reform remained a constant influence on the life and philosophy of Ashraf. Ashraf left his parents' home to live with his uncle at age 7. When he turned 16, he graduated from school and went on to study at B M College in Barisal. He was then admitted to University of Dhaka at the Department of Bengali.

Pak Students Work Camp Association/Editor of the Mission (Monthly Bulletin)
At Dhaka University, Ashraf was the Secretary General of Pak Students Work Camp Association and the Editor of the Mission, the Monthly Bulletin of the Pak Students Work Camp Association. He was a student of SM Hall, Dhaka University. The Pak Students Work Camp Association was formed on 7 April 1963.

Faqir (Beggars) Samity
Together with young Bengali students, Ashraf led this socio cultural group of going around Bengali expats residences in England, singing traditional songs. The title of the group was derived from their practice of visiting the residences of its members and singing familiar songs of Bangladeshi beggars. These songs included phrases like "Shono Momin Musalmana, Kari Aami Nibedana, E Dunia Fana Habe Jene Janona" (Listen, O faithful Muslims, you know it but do not admit that this world will be destroyed one day). Another song they sang was "Diner Nabi Mastofae, Rasta Diya Haitta Jae, Rastai Chhila Harin Bandha Gachher-i Tolai" (The great Prophet of the true religion walked down the road by the side of which was a tree to which a deer was tied with a rope). When the group members visited a house and sang these beggars’ songs, the household had to host a feast of fine rice cooked in clarified butter and lamb curry the following weekend. This tradition helped foster intimate comradeship and fellow feeling among the group members.

Janomot First Bengali Newsweekly
He played a pivotal role in London during the Bangladesh Independence War in 1971. It was his Bengali newsweekly, Janomot (established in London, 21 February 1969, the first Bengali newspaper printed outside Bangladesh) that motivated Bengalis living in London to fight for Independence. A. T. M. Wali Ashraf was the Founder Editor of Janomot newsweekly which began in his home at 2 Temperley Road, Balham, London. The Janomot Office was later shifted to Unit 2, 20b Spelman Street Spitalfields & Bangla Town, London E1 5LQ.

His residence at 2 Temperley Road, London was also the birthplace of the first Bangladesh Biman Office (Bangladesh airlines) in London.

In 60s/70s, A. T. M. Wali Ashraf, Zakaria Ahmed and other Bengalis scared the Pakistani rulers while sitting in London. He spoke about the independence of this country, sitting in London. He occupied the Pakistan High Commission building and announced the independence of Bengal. He was the first to take the initiative to save Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from the Agartala conspiracy case. In the face of their strong agitation and resistance, Pakistan President Field Marshal Ayub Khan, who was visiting Pakistan, escaped through the back door of the hotel.

Bangladesh Students Action Committee
In London, the Bangladesh Students Action Committee was pivotal in garnering support of the Bengali expat community and of the international community. Mohammad Hossain Monju was convener of the Students’ Action Committee for the War of Liberation in UK. Khondakar Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam, Wali Ashraf, Sultan Mahmud Sharif, Shafiuddin Mahmud Bulbul, Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik (later justice of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh), Ziauddin Mahmud, Lutfur Rahman Shahjahan, Akhter Imam, Kamrul Islam were active members of the action committee. It played a very important role in inspiring and coordinating activities of expatriate Bangladeshis for strengthening of liberation publicity and lobbying in the west, especially Europe.

Career
A. T. M. Wali Ashraf was a Bengali newscaster on BBC Bangla World Service, London.

A. T. M. Wali Ashraf was first elected to Parliament from Brahmanbaria-6 as an Independent Member of Parliament in 1988.

A. T. M. Wali Ashraf was secondly elected to Parliament from Brahmanbaria-6 as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate in 1991.

Wali Ashraf attended the World Assembly for Peace held in Budapest as a member of the official delegation, which was led by M. A. Samad—an elected member of the National Assembly and Roving Ambassador for the Republic of Bangladesh. The delegation also included Dewan Mahbub Ali, Joint Secretary of the National Awami Party, and Dr. Sarwar Ali.

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Nazrul Islam went to Holland at the invitation of the Friends of Bangladesh in Holland to attend a press conference. Wali Ashraf also attended the same conference as the representative of Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury. They formed the Europa Committee and also visited Belgium to seek and solicit support for Bangladesh.