Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury no more
Samakal Correspondent
19 May 2022 04:52 AM । Update: 19 May 2022 06:52 AM
Prominent journalist and columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury has passed away on Thursday. He breathed his last at a hospital in London, UK, this morning, local time.
He is well known for composing the lyrics of Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano, the most influential song of the Bengali Language Movement. Altaf Mahmud, on the other hand, later composed music and adapted the song. It is recognized as the third best Bengali song by BBC Bengali Service listeners.
Choudhury worked as a journalist in Dhaka for several national newspapers before going to the UK. He worked for Joy Bangla, Jugantar, and Anandabazar Patrika during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, a political analyst, was born on December 12, 1934, in Ulania village, Mehendiganj, Barishal.
He was the son of Zohra Khatun and British India freedom fighter Hazi Wahed Reza Choudhury.
On October 5, 1974, he moved to England after graduating from Dhaka University in 1959.
In the UK, Chowdhury founded a newspaper called the Notun Din while during his career as a journalist he authored 35 books like "Dan Pithe Shawkat", "Chandrodwiper Upakhyan", "Nam Na Jana Bhore", "Nil Jamuna", "Shesh Rajanir Chand" and "Polashi Thekey Dhanmondi".
He also produced a film on Bangabandhu's assassination titled "Polashi theke Dhanmondi".
His contributions to Bangla literary world was acknowledged even before Bangladesh's independence while he received Bangla Academy Literary Award back in 1967. He was awarded Sadhinota Padak in 2009.
Chowdhury was also the recipient of Ekushey Padak UNESCO Literary Award, Bangabandhu Award, Shanghati Lifetime Achievement Award.
He went to the United Kingdom for the treatment of his wife and could not return to Bangladesh for 22 years after Bangabandhu's August 15, 1975 assassination along with most of his family members.
His wife Selima Choudhury died in London while the couple have four daughters alongside the son.
