Farewell to a Political Icon: Begum Matia Chowdhury‍‍`s Funeral Held in Dhaka

The funeral prayer for veteran politician and Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury was held today, October 17, 2023. Following the prayer, she was laid to rest at the Mirpur Intellectuals‍‍` Cemetery.

The first funeral prayer took place at 10 AM in front of her residence at Ramna Apartment Complex in the capital, followed by the final prayer at Gulshan Azad Mosque. After the prayers, she was taken for burial.

Leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations paid their respects, as did journalists and their representatives.

Begum Matia Chowdhury passed away at the age of 82 on October 16, 2023, while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

Born on June 30, 1942, in Pirojpur, Matia Chowdhury was known in Bangladesh‍‍`s political arena as the "Fire-Daughter"(Agni-Konna).

Her father, Mohiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, was a police officer, and her mother, Nurjahan Begum, was a homemaker. She married renowned journalist Bazlur Rahman on June 18, 1964.

Matia Chowdhury was elected six times as a Member of Parliament from the Sherpur-2 (Nokla-Nalitabari) constituency. 

She served as the Minister of Agriculture during the Awami League government in 1996, 2009, and 2014. 

Most recently, she held the position of Deputy Leader of the National Parliament from January 12, 2023, following the twelfth national elections.

Her political journey began during her studies at Eden College, where she became involved in student politics. 

In 1965, she was elected President of the Bangladesh Student Union and joined the East Pakistan National Awami Party in 1967, later becoming a member of its Executive Committee. 

She actively participated in Bangladesh‍‍`s liberation struggle during 1970-1971, engaging in advocacy and assisting the injured.

Matia Chowdhury ultimately joined the Awami League, serving as the party‍‍`s Organizational Secretary in 1971. 

She faced multiple arrests during the regimes of Presidents Ziaur Rahman and Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Throughout her political career, she held the role of Minister of Agriculture multiple times and remained a prominent member of the Awami League until her passing. 

Following the July-August 2024 mass uprising, President Mohammad Shahabuddin dissolved the National Parliament, resulting in her losing her parliamentary seat.