Matia Chowdhury: A revered leader who desired eternal rest in Nalitabari

Matia Chowdhury, known as the “fire daughter” of Bengal, was not the one to seek recognition through name plates or placards.

There are no nameplates in her electoral area bearing her name. Even while serving in government, she was a powerful leader, holding ministerial positions in significant ministries. Despite many important development projects being initiated during her tenure, none bore her name on inauguration plaques.

In a remarkable display of humility, Matia, a senior minister herself, allowed another minister to inaugurate development works in her area.

She even made history by having a common villager inaugurate a large project, a rubber dam, which is a testament to her unique ability as a people‍‍`s leader. This sentiment is echoed by the residents of her electoral area.

A member of the Awami League presidium, Matia passed away at Evercare Hospital in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. She represented the Sherpur-2 (Nokla-Nalitabari) constituency multiple times.

Her connection to the soil and the people of Nalitabari was so profound that she expressed her desire to be laid to eternal rest there. During various public gatherings, she reiterated her wish to be buried in Nalitabari after her death.

Hablu Dutta, a businessman from Nalitabari, remarked, “The pain of hearing the news of Matia Chowdhury’s death is indescribable. She was a selfless and honest person. Politicians like her are rare. She did not believe in nameplates. There will be no nameplate in the area bearing her name. However, she wished to be laid to eternal rest in the soil of Nalitabari, which she stated at several public gatherings. Her love for the people of Nalitabari was immense.”

Sumanta Barman, a leader of the indigenous community in Siddhuli village, shared, “Matia Chowdhury was an honest, dedicated, and just politician. She never compromised with injustice and is an icon of Bangladeshi politics.

“Matia Chowdhury will be remembered forever for her role in the anti-Ayub movement, the 1962 protests against Monayem Khan’s education commission, the Liberation War, and the anti-autocratic people’s movement of the ’90s.

“During her time in government, she brought revolutionary changes to agricultural management in Bangladesh. Previously, farmers had to go to agricultural offices; under her leadership, agricultural officers visited the farmers‍‍` fields. She established agriculture as a profitable profession, thereby restoring the rights of the poor. With the loss of Matia Chowdhury, we have lost a true people’s leader,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jayashree Das Lakshmi, chairperson of the Sherpur District Women’s Association, reflected on her childhood memories with Matia Chowdhury: “It was her words that inspired me to join the Student Union while in the ninth grade. She was our inspiration. I don’t know if anyone like her will ever be born again. She was closely connected to Sherpur, where her in-laws’ house is located. Shortly after marrying in 1965, Matia stayed at the home of revolutionary Ravi Niogi, a prominent figure in the anti-British movement who had returned from the Andaman Islands, on her way to her in-laws‍‍` house with her husband, Bajlur Rahman. At that time, she was a prominent leader, and we called her ‘Apa.’ I was a student in the tenth grade then.”

Matia Chowdhury‍‍`s body may be buried at the Shaheed Buddhi Jibi Cemetery in the capital. A decision regarding her funeral or burial in Sherpur has yet to be made due to changing circumstances, according to Mohammad Shafiqur Islam Jinnah, General Secretary of the Awami League in Nokla Upazila, who resides in Dhaka.