Matia Chowdhury died

Bangladesh Awami League presidium member and former parliament deputy leader Begum Matia Chowdhury passed away. He died today Wednesday (October 16) afternoon while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital.

Evercare Hospital General Manager Arif Mahmood confirmed this information. The hospital authorities say that this former member of parliament of Sherpur-2 Constituency died around 1 pm.

Matia Chowdhury got ministerial status in February this year. After the death of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, the deputy leader of the parliament during the Awami League period, this veteran politician was also the deputy leader of the parliament during the eleventh national government.

Matia Chowdhury was born on June 30, 1942 in Pirojpur. His father Mohiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury was a police officer and mother Nurjahan Begum was a housewife. On June 18, 1964, Matia Chowdhury got married to the famous journalist Bazlur Rahman.

He got involved in student politics while studying at Eden College. In 1965, he was elected president of the Bangladesh Students' Union. In 1967, Matia, popularly known as 'Agnikanya', joined the East Pakistan National Awami Party and became a member of its executive committee.

Between 1970 and 1971, he actively participated in Bangladesh's freedom struggle, campaigning, lobbying and nursing the wounded.

In 1971, he became the organizing secretary of Awami League. He was arrested several times during the period of President Ziaur Rahman and President Hussain Muhammad Ershad.

Matia Chowdhury served as the Agriculture Minister during the Awami League regime in 1996, 2009 and 2013. He was last serving as the number 1 presidium member of Awami League.