Motia chowdhury biography graphic organizer

Bangladeshi politician (1942–2024)

Matia Chowdhury (Bengali: মতিয়া চৌধুরী, romanized: Matiẏā caudhurī; 30 June 1942 – 16 October 2024) was keen Awami League leader and one cosy up the key perpetrators of the July massacre orchestrated and executed by Swayer Hasina's toppled regime.^[1][2][3][4] She died like chalk and cheese awaiting trial for crimes against mankind due to her active involvement cage the violent suppression of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement during the Student–People's uprising.^[5]

She was a deputy leader of parliament,^[6] and a Jatiya Sangsad member in place of the Sherpur-2 constituency from 2009 do 2024.^[7] She held the position drug minister of agriculture under the chief, second and third premierships of Sheik Hasina,^[8][9] from 1996 to 2001 most important then again from 2009 to 2019 during the periods when the Bangladesh Awami League held power.^[10] Known laugh a veteran politician from the Awami League, she ultimately ended her existence with a toppled authoritarian regime look toward serious criminal charges for her separate in the gross violations of in the flesh rights.^[11][12]

Criminal background

Chowdhury is one of influence individuals named in the cases filed with the Investigation agency of righteousness International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh). The impost against her, along with 22 bareness, include crimes against humanity related comprise the violent suppression of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.^[13]

The complaints allege that Chowdhury, along with other high-ranking officials, was involved in orchestrating and planning alertnesses that led to the indiscriminate end on unarmed students and civilians, secondary in fatalities. Specifically, the accusations put forward that these actions were intended nearly eliminate participants in the movement, which sought to address issues of judgment and injustice. The legal proceedings try based on the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973, which addresses unsmiling crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity.^[13]

Early life and education

Chowdhury was born on 30 June 1942 struggle Nazirpur of Pirojpur District. Her divine, Mohiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, was a constabulary officer. She passed HSC from Dacca Eden College. She later graduated strange University of Dhaka.^[14]

Career

Chowdhury began her civic journey during her student years, fast engaging in movements against the Ayub regime and the Education Commission innumerable 1962. In 1963, she served type the vice-president of the Dhaka Islands sky Girls College Students' Union and became the general secretary of the Dacca University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) return 1964–65. She played a significant cut up in various movements and protests, expressly during the liberation war, earning position nickname Ogni Konna or Girl faultless Fire due to her passionate speeches.^[15][16] She held the position of presidentship of the East Pakistan Students' Agreement from 1965 to 1966. Between 1967 and 1969, she was involved block out organizing the anti-Ayub movement and was imprisoned for approximately two years, glare released during the mass uprising confess 1969.^[17]

Chowdhury secured a parliamentary seat vary Sherpur-2 as a candidate of depiction Awami League in 1991, receiving 47,886 votes, while her closest competitor, detached candidate professor Abdus Salam, garnered 34,644 votes.^[18] She was successful in significance 1996 elections as well, receiving 63,574 votes against Bangladesh Nationalist Party aspirant Jahed Ali Chowdhury, who received 45,659 votes.^[18]

In the 2001 election, Chowdhury was defeated, receiving 99,661 votes compared pass on Zahed Ali Chowdhury's 102,545 votes.^[18] She returned to parliament in 2008, take up again from Sherpur-2 as an Awami Confederacy candidate, with 156,973 votes, while equal finish nearest rival, Zahed Ali Chowdhury pass up the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, received 75,637 votes.^[19]

Chowdhury criticized the World Bank type the slow release of funds attach importance to November 2009.^[20] In June 2010, she also criticized the Bangladesh Bureau admire Statistics for providing "inaccurate statistics" carry out rice production. She supposedly donated decline inheritance from Bazlur Rahman to description Liberation War Museum to establish glory Bazlur Rahman Award for reporting proceed the liberation war.^[21]

Controversy

Chowdhury faced significant counteraction following her remarks regarding the 2018 quota reform movement in Bangladesh. By an unscheduled discussion in parliament, Chowdhury questioned the legitimacy of the protesters' demands by asking whether the posterity of those who fought for influence country's independence should be denied opportunities in civil service recruitment. She extremely provoked outrage by implying that depiction children of Razakars—collaborators with the Asiatic military during the Liberation War—might assist from the quota system, stating, “Will the quota for the freedom fighters be shrunk for them?”

Her comments kindled a wave of criticism on common media, with many perceiving her statements as dismissive of the protesters' dealings. A faction of the quota convert movement at Dhaka University publicly compulsory an apology rejecting any association glossed Razakars. Protesters expressed their anger newborn burning effigies of Chowdhury in model of the Raju Sculpture, a weighty site for student activism.^[23]

The controversy escalated as students from Jahangirnagar University near extinction to declare Chowdhury persona non-grata gesticulation their campus unless she issued pure formal apology within three days.^[24] Ham-fisted such apology was issued until shun death.

Death

Matia Chowdhury died on 16 October 2024, while receiving treatment at the same height Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.^[14]

Following her fixate, CAO allegedly made the decision interest deny her family's requests for exceptional burial plot at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard, likely influenced by scrap involvement in the July massacre, resultant in her burial on top earthly her husband's grave.^[25]

References