James Leo Ferguson

Ferguson was born in Kanaighat, Sylhet. He is an Anglo-Indian. His forefathers were from Scotland. His great grandfather Donald Ferguson had fought in World War I. His father James Arthur Ferguson joined the British army too and took part in World War II. After the Second World War, Arthur Ferguson retired from the army and took up a job at the India Isabella Tea Estate. Leo Ferguson's mother June Ferguson became the manager of the Lobhachhara tea garden. She was the first female tea garden manager in the Indian subcontinent at that time. Later they bought the tea garden.[4]

Ferguson studied at Cumilla Cadet College and graduated in 1971. At the end of April that year, he ran away from Cumilla and came to Sylhet.

Map showing Bangladesh Liberation War Sectors

After returning to Lobhachhara, Ferguson crossed over into India taking his mother's permission. He underwent military training and joined Bangladesh Liberation War.[4] Perhaps the soldier's blood that ran in his veins prompted him to join the liberation war. According to him,

"I was born in this land. I fought for this land. My mother inspired me. I fought from August under sub-sector 5. I was a Scotsman and my comrades loved me. They were inspired by the war experiences of my forefathers."[4]

In 1982, Leo married a Scottish women named Quinla. They have two sons. His wife and sons live in London, UK. As a people's representative, he lives in Kanaighat. But they travel back and forth. Ferguson celebrates Victory day of Bangladesh quietly at his tea garden.[4]