Former President of Bangladesh and veteran politician Dr AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury passed away at a hospital in the capital Dhaka early Saturday at the age of 94.
He breathed his last at 3.15am at Uttara Women Medical College Hospital established by his own here, his press secretary Jahangir Alam said.
Chowdhury is survived by wife, a son, two daughters, grand children and a host of relatives and well-wishers.
The ex-president was admitted to the hospital on October 2 as he had a lung infection. That day, his daughter, Dr Shayla Chowdhury, informed that her father had previously suffered from ischemic heart disease.
A prominent physician and veteran politician, Badruddoza, was born on October 11, 1930, in Cumilla city (the famous 'Munshif Bari') at his maternal grandparents' house.
He was the founding secretary-general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as his father Advocate Kafil Uddin Chowdhury was the co-chairman of the Krishak Praja Party, general secretary of the United Front, and a member of the then provincial cabinet of East Pakistan.
B Chowdhury, who was admitted to Uttara Women’s Medical College Hospital on Wednesday with lung infection, breathed his last around 3:15 am, said his daughter Dr Shayla Chowdhury.
B Chowdhury will be buried at his family graveyard at Majidpur Dayhata in Munshiganj on Sunday, said his press secretary Jahangir Alam.
His first namaz-e-janaza was held at Uttara Women's Medical College and Hospital premises at 8:00 am on Saturday. The second janaza will be held at Baitul Atik Jame Mosque at Baridhara on Road 8 after Zohr prayers, the third one at Munshiganj stadium at 10 am on Sunday and the fourth one at his village home Majidpur Dayhata after Zohr prayers.
A prominent physician and the founding secretary-general of the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party), B Chowdhury was born on October 11, 1930, in Cumilla city (the famous 'Munshif Bari') at his maternal grandparents' house.
His father Kafil Uddin Chowdhury was the co-chairman of the Krishak Praja Party, general secretary of the United Front, and a member of the then provincial cabinet of East Pakistan.
His ancestral home is in Majidpur Dayahata village, Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj.
B Chowdhury completed his matriculation in the first division from the famous St. Gregory's School in Dhaka in 1947 and passed the ISC in the first division from Dhaka College in 1949. He earned his MBBS degree from Dhaka Medical College in 1954-55. He was on the merit list in all examinations.
He was a fellow of the three Royal Colleges of Physicians in the United Kingdom: London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow (F.R.C.P) and an honored F.C.P.S. in Bangladesh.
A successful parliamentarian, B. Chowdhury delivered speeches at the United Nations three times. He was a recipient of the Independence Award and the author of many books.
B Chowdhury entered politics at the request of former President Ziaur Rahman in 1978. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Munshiganj, in 1979 and served as a cabinet minister.
He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 1991 and initially served as Minister of Education and later as Deputy Leader of Parliament. In 1996, he served as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. He was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 2001 and served as the Foreign Affairs Minister of the BNP government from October to November of that year.
Professor Badruddoza Chowdhury was elected President of Bangladesh on November 14, 2001. He resigned from the presidency on June 21, 2002.
On May 8, 2004, B Chowdhury founded a political party named Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh. He was serving as the party's president.
His elder daughter, Moona Chowdhury, is a barrister by profession. His younger daughter, Shayla Chowdhury, is a physician and teaches at Dhaka’s Uttara Women’s Medical College. His only son, Mahi B Chowdhury, is a politician and media personality.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today condoled the death of former president, veteran politician and parliamentarian AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.
In a condolence message, he prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul of Chowdhury.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed deep condolences over the passing of former President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.
During a teachers' assembly organized by the Teachers-Staff Unity Council at the Engineers Institute in Ramna on Saturday morning, Mirza Fakhrul paid tribute to the late leader.
“Our party's founding Secretary General, Badruddoza Chowdhury, has passed away today. Although he was not with us in recent times, he was the founding Secretary General of our party,” Fakhrul said.
“I extend my deepest condolences on his death, express my sorrow, and pray for the salvation of his soul,” he added.
Jatiya Party Chairman Golam Mohammad Quader on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of former president and Bikalpadhara Bangladesh founder chairman AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury.
In a message, GM Quader prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.
"Professor Badruddoza was a patriotic political personality. He has worked lifelong for the welfare of the people", said the Jatiya Party leader. The country has lost a real guardian at the death of him".
A huge vacuum has been created in the political arena of the country due to his death, the message added.
