Mohammad Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan (Manik)

Mohammad Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan (Manik) is a Bangladeshi businessman, sports organizer, and politician. He is the chairman of Toma Group, a major Bangladeshi conglomerate.[1] He is the vice-president of the Bangladesh Football Federation, the associate of FIFA in Bangladesh.[2]

Bhuiyan is the chairman of Bangladesh Football Federation Development Committee.[3] He is the convenor of BFF Professional League Management Committee's sub committee.[4] He signed an agreement with InterContinental Dhaka to make it the official hosting partner of Bangladesh Football Federation.[5]

Career

Bhuiyan established Toma Group in 1996 with the start of Toma Construction & Co. Limited.[6] Bhuiyan is the chairman of Toma Group.[7] He signed an agreement with Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited in April 2014 which would allow the customers of the bank to pay for Toma taxies with their cards.[8] His Toma Group is one of two exclusive contractors of Bangladesh Railway, the other is Max Group.[9] Toma Construction was building Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover when a pedestrian died in an accident despite which the company failed to improve on safety.[10][11]

Bhuiyan is the vice-president of the Noakhali District unit of Awami League.[12] His appointment to vice-president was criticised by Abdul Quader Mirza, brother of Awami League General Secretary, Obaidul Quader.[13] Mirza accused Bhuiyan of being close to Hawa Bhaban, the political office of Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia.[13] Mirza also criticised Bhuiyan's fellow vice-president of Noakhali District unit of Awami League, Zabed Minhaj Ahmed Zabed who is the younger brother of former Bangladesh Army chief Moeen U Ahmed for not having enough links to Awami League.[14]

On 11 December 2019, Bhuiyan sued MG Kibria Chowdhury and another journalist of Dainik Jatio Arthonitee who alleged he had links to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir in their newspaper under the Digital Security Act.[15] The journalists were arrested on 6 January 2020.[15]

Bhuiyan bought nomination papers for vice-president of the Bangladesh Football Federation on 8 September 2020.[16] He was elected in October under the Samonnya Parishad of president Kazi Salahuddin.[17][18] The Bangladesh Football Federation was founded on 15 July 1972 by Muhammad Yusuf Ali, the country's former minister for education, culture and sport.[19] In December 2021, he accorded a reception to the Swadhin Bangla' Football team.[20]

References

1. "Board of Directors". Toma Group. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
2. "Bashundhara Kings clinch Independence Cup title | Sports". BSS. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
3. "BFF Vice President Mr. Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik talks to press about Academy |". BFF. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
4. "Bangladesh Championship League: Swadhinata KS off to good start beating Little Friends 2-0". UNB. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
5. "Hotel Intercontinental signs deal to become BFF's hospitality partner". Dhaka Tribune. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
6. "Toma Group". Toma Group. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
7. "Board of Director | Toma Properties". www.tomaproperties.com.bd. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
8. "Toma Group and Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd. have signed an agreement for Payment of Taxi fare through Card – Dutch-Bangla Bank Newsroom". Retrieved 27 December 2022.
9. "Boost capacity of contractors to speed up projects". The Daily Star. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
10. Masum, Obaidur. "Toma Construction takes no safety measures after death in flyover girder fall". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
11. "Moghbazar-Malibagh flyover turns into a death trap - Front Page". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
12. "FENI: Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik, Chairman, Toma Group and Vice -President, Noakhali District Awami League distributing Iftar and Eid items among the distressed people at Senbagh as Chief Guest recently". The New Nation. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
13. "Won't get a chance to flee if fair polls held, says transport minister's brother". Prothom Alo. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
14. "They threaten to shoot me : Abdul Quader Mirza". Prothom Alo. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
15. "Jatio Arthonitee editor Kibria arrested under Digital Security Act". New Age. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
16. "Salahuddin, Murshedy, Imrul buy nomination papers". Daily Sun. September 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
17. "BFF VP elect Ataur prioritises upgradation of team, stadium". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
18. "BFF Election-2020: Kazi Salahuddin's rival panel formed". Prothom Alo. UNB. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
19. "BFF info". bangladeshdir.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
20. "BFF accords reception to Swadhin Bangla football team". The Business Standard. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2022.