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 Bangladesh Football Federation, the associate of FIFA in Bangladesh.^[2]

Career

Bhuiyan established Toma Group in 1996 with the start of Toma Construction & Co. Limited.^[3] Bhuiyan is the chairman of Toma Group.^[4] 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.^[5] His Toma Group is one of two exclusive contractors of Bangladesh Railway, the other is Max Group.^[6] Toma Construction was building Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover when a pedestrian died in an accident despite which the company failed to improve on safety.^[7][8]

Bhuiyan bought nominations for Vice-President of Bangladesh Football Federation on 8 September.^[9] He was elected the Vice-President of Bangladesh Football Federation in October 2020 under the Samonnya Parishad of president Kazi Salahuddin.^[10][11] The Bangladesh Football Federation was founded on 15 July 1972 by Muhammad Yusuf Ali, the country's former Minister for Education, Culture and Sport.^[12] He organized an iftar for the vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.^[13] He is the chairman of Bangladesh Football Federation Development Committee.^[14] He is the convenor of BFF Professional League Management Committee's sub committee.^[15] He signed an agreement with InterContinental Dhaka to make it the official hosting partner of Bangladesh Football Federation.^[16] In December 2021, he accorded a reception to the Swadhin Bangla' Football team.^[17]

Bhuiyan is the Vice-President of the Noakhali District unit of Awami League.^[18] His appointment to Vice-President was criticised by Abdul Quader Mirza, brother of Awami League General Secretary, Obaidul Quader.^[19] Mirza accused Bhuiyan of being close to Hawa Bhaban, the political office of Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia.^[19] 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.^[20] 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.^[21] The journalists were arrested on 6 January 2020.^[21]

References

1. "Board of Directors". Toma Group. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
2. "Bashundhara Kings clinch Independence Cup title | Sports". BSS. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
3. "Toma Group". Toma Group. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
4. "Board of Director | Toma Properties". www.tomaproperties.com.bd. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
5. "Toma Group and Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd. have signed an agreement for Payment of Taxi fare through Card – Dutch-Bangla Bank Newsroom". Retrieved 2022-12-27.
6. "Boost capacity of contractors to speed up projects". The Daily Star. 2018-04-01. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
7. Masum, Obaidur. "Toma Construction takes no safety measures after death in flyover girder fall". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
8. "Moghbazar-Malibagh flyover turns into a death trap - Front Page - observerbd.com". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
9. sun, daily (September 2020). "Salahuddin, Murshedy, Imrul buy nomination papers | Daily Sun |". daily sun. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
10. "BFF VP elect Ataur prioritises upgradation of team, stadium". BFF VP elect Ataur prioritises upgradation of team, stadium | theindependentbd.com. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
11. UNB (17 September 2020). "BFF Election-2020: Kazi Salahuddin's rival panel formed". Prothomalo. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
12. . bangladeshdir.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
13. trumptree360. "BFF 'Feeding Program' Amid Lockdown |". BFF. Retrieved 2022-12-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
14. trumptree360. "BFF Vice President Mr. Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik talks to press about Academy |". BFF. Retrieved 2022-12-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
15. "Bangladesh Championship League: Swadhinata KS off to good start beating Little Friends 2-0". unb.com.bd. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
16. "Hotel Intercontinental signs deal to become BFF's hospitality partner". www.dhakatribune.com. 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
17. "BFF accords reception to Swadhin Bangla football team". The Business Standard. 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
18. Nation, The New. "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 2022-12-27.
19. Staff Correspondent (5 January 2021). "Won't get a chance to flee if fair polls held, says transport minister's brother". Prothomalo. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
20. Staff Correspondent (6 January 2021). "They threaten to shoot me : Abdul Quader Mirza". Prothomalo. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
21. "Jatio Arthonitee editor Kibria arrested under Digital Security Act". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh. Retrieved 2022-12-27.