Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury

Early life and education

Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury received a Masters Degree in Political Science, Islamic History and as well a LLB Degree. He also took diploma in Music. Maya had started politics in 1965 during his student life and participated several national movements then.

Bangladesh Liberation War

Maya actively participated in the Liberation War which was inspired by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the war and the Father of the Nation. Maya was the Commander of the Crack Platoon under Sector No 2. For his Heroic contribution in the war, he was awarded "Bir Bikram"^[1] the second highest award for contributing in the war. On June 1971, A troop of Guerrilla were planning to attack the Capital City Dhaka. They were “The Crack Platoon” members of the great Liberation War of Bangladesh. Their target was to attack Hotel Intercontinental where foreign tourists, ambassadors and media personnals were staying due to war situation. The mission was to let them know about Bangladesh’s serious Liberation War which was going during that time. On a fine evening, Guerrillas attacked that hotel with bombing. Foreigners staying in the hotel were frightened from the bombings and they realized that Liberation war was going on in Bangladesh. The world got the message about the war situation in Bangladesh. The Commander who led that operation was Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.

Early career

Maya started active politics in Dhaka City Awami League from 1972 after the 1971 Liberation War in Bangladesh. He was the Convener of “Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee” and member of the steering committee. On the night 15th August, 1975 when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with his family, Maya openly protested and condemned the killings. This led Maya to get arrested. He was imprisoned for 3 years along with the four national leaders of Bangladesh but later got free by writ in the High Court.

Personal Life

Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya is involved with business besides politics. In his personal life, he is a father of two sons and one daughter. The oldest son is Sajedul Hossain Chowdhury (Dipu) who is involved in active politics alongside with Maya in Chandpur. Secondly is Rifat Sayeed who is the only daughter of Maya. Finally is Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury (Ronni) the youngest son of Maya.

Works

Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury addressing a Dhaka city Awami League meeting (2013).

Maya was elected City General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League for four times. He is a member of central working committee of the party. Maya and his relatives have been ruling Matlab North Upazila for a long time. His father was the Chairman of Mohonpur Union in Chandpur for long 30 years. He was the member of parliament from Chandpur-2 Constituency in 1996 for the first time and in 2014 for the second time. For Maya's first duration, he was the State Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operative Ministry for the first half of his tenure. The second half of his tenure, he was respectfully given the Shipping Ministry. For the second term, Maya won his member of parliament uncontestedly. He has been given the responsibility as the cabinet minister for Disaster and Relief Management. As the Member of Parliament Honorable Minister established many Academic Institutions and Communication Infrastructures in his area. He is the Founder of Matlab North Upazila, Matlab and Chengarchor Municipality.

21st August Grenade Attack

On the 21st of August, 2004, Bangladesh Awami League held a Anti-terrorism rally at Bangabandhu Avenue. The attack started at about 5:22pm when Sheikh Hasina, the president of the Bangladesh Awami League was on stage with all the senior leaders of the party. Suddenly, as soon as the leader of the party Sheikh Hasina concluded her speech, grenades exploded. This left 24 people dead and more than 300 people injured. Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Mohammed Hanif and many other senior leaders formed a human barricade around Sheikh Hasina to protect her. They quickly got her into her bulletproof jeep and left the area. On the way to the hospital, bullets were shot towards the car but the party leaders escaped as the jeep was bulletproof. At a programme, Sheikh Hasina had said, "If Maya and Hanif were not there that day, I would not be alive today".^[2]

Criticism

In the 1996 -2001 tenure, Maya's oldest son Dipu was in the center of controversies. Dipu^[3] was charged with multiple cases along with a murder case of an area society president. Later, all of the charges were proven wrong and Dipu was respectfully released. The cases were proven to be false and the charges pressed against Dipu was only to put a bad image on Maya's political image.

Maya was sentenced to 13 years in jail on corruption charges in 2008 which was upheld by the supreme court of Bangladesh in 2016.^[4]

In 2014, after he was elected. His son-in-law Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Tareque Sayeed has been indicted in the sensational Narayanganj Seven Murder case which is still under trial.^[5]

References