A K M Rafiqullah Chowdhury: Portrait of a politician

At the age of 88, A K M Rafiqullah Chowdhury breathed his last at his residence in Chittagong on September 21, 2011 concluding his long journey in the mundane earth. He will be remembered for his honesty, courage and patriotism. Rafiqullah Chowdhury was born in 1923 in Kalapania, Swandip. He was the youngest son of A K M Halim Ullah Chowdhury and Nazibunnessa Chowdhury. Rafiqullah started his schooling as a student of 2nd Grade in the Kathgar Golam Nabi School. In the following year, he was transferred to Chittagong Muslim High School where he was admitted in 3rd Grade. Having passed the Matriculation examination in 1941 from the same school, Rafiqullah Chowdhury moved to Kolkata for further studies. In 1943 he passed Intermediate examination from Islamia College, Kolkata. The same year a famine broke out in Bengal and Mr Chowdhury participated in relief works in Swandip. It was in the same year he suffered another mental trauma as his father passed away. Despite all the adversities Rafiqullah Chowdhury earned his Graduation degree in Commerce from City College, Kolkata. At a very tender age when he was a student of high school, Rafiqullah joined the Muslim League in 1937. He became an activist of Pakistan Movement when Pakistan resolution was adopted in 1940. He was the founding Joint-Secretary General of Swandip Association in Kolkata. In 1943, Kolkata Police arrested him on "Captain Rashid Ali Day". Swandip Police lodged a case against nine students of Swandip on charges of disturbing as the Hindus were carrying their idol. He took the responsibility of conducting this case and with his able leadership and wisdom all the nine students were acquitted. In 1943, he defended the Muslim community during the communal riot. He contributed to the dismemberment of Swandip from Noakhali district to join Chittagong district. He ran the elections of 1962, 1965, 1970 of Pakistan National Assembly. Being frustrated and dissatisfied with thinking line of the Muslim League, Rafiqullah Chowdhury joined a cultural movement called Tammudin Majlish. Through this organisation, he joined the Language Movement in 1952. When Khilafat-e-Rabbani was formed, he joined this new organisation and assumed the post of Secretary of Chittagong District. He retained this position till he became a presidium member of this party in 1955. The same year he became its Secretary General and worked in this position till 1971. He assumed the office of the Vice-President of Islamic Democratic League in 1977. He was elected an MP in 1977. During his tenure, a cross dam and two sluice gates were built. He was also elected Upazila Chairman of Swandip. The elderly politician took part in the Anti-Ershad Movement in late eighties. He played a vital role in forming the Islamic alliance in 1997, but later on left the alliance in 2001 when the party got divided. Throughout his life, he was involved in various socio-cultural activities. He was involved with Swandip Association, Chittagong since its beginning. Since 1974, he remained closely associated with the Muslim Education Society and in 1985 he became its Secretary General. He was the founding Secretary of Zamiatul Falah. At the invitation of Nezam-e-Islam, Mr Chowdhury joined Lahore conference as an observer. In 1982, he visited Iran at the invitation of the Iranian Government. In 2003, he visited Pakistan to join National Conference. He was awarded Mother Language Award in 2006 by the Tammudin Majlish. He received "Principal Abul Quasem Award" from "The Institution of Civilisation and Historical Studies" for his outstanding contribution to the Language Movement. The Chittagong Samity in Dhaka also accorded him a special reception as a language hero. Leaders and admirers belonging to all political shades and opinions paid rich tributes to Rafiqullah Chowdhury in a condolence meeting organised by the Chittagong Samity after his death. His role in the Liberation War in 1971 remains impugned and unknown to many; he used to pass on information to the freedom fighters against any impending Pakistani raid. The freedom fighters revealed this information in the condolence meeting. Rafiqullah Chowdhury's honesty was beyond question. He could earn a lot from politics as many did. He, however, never compromised his political philosophy with anything. (The writer is the founding Chairman of Eastern University and former vice-president of FBCCI.)