Matia Chowdhury
Awami League presidium member Matia Chowdhury passed away (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun). According to family sources, he died at a hospital in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
82-year-old Matia Chowdhury was ill for several days. He was undergoing treatment at Ever Care Hospital in the capital. A source in his family confirmed that he died there today.
Matia Chowdhury, known as ‘Fire Girl’ in Bangladesh politics, was born in Pirojpur on June 30, 1942. He was elected Member of Parliament from Sherpur-2 constituency in the last 12th National Parliament Election.
Matia Chowdhury’s political career started with left-wing politics. In the 1960s, Matia Chowdhury took an active part in the student movement against the Pakistani military dictator Ayub Khan. Imprisoned four times during the reign of Ayub Khan. In 1965, he was elected president of the Bangladesh Students’ Union.
After independence he joined Awami League. After that he played an important role on the streets in various movements for the party. He was imprisoned during various military governments.
In 1996, 2009 and 2014, he served as the Minister of Agriculture during the Awami League regime. After the 12th National Parliament election, he took charge as the Deputy Leader of the National Parliament.
