Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury
Encyclopedia
Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury(Bangla:মিজানুর রহমান চৌধুরী) (October 19, 1928-February 2, 2006) was a Bengali
politician, most notable for serving as Prime Minister
of Bangladesh
from July 9, 1986, to March 27, 1988.
Chowdhury was born in Chandpur District
, in what is now Bangladesh. In college, he was involved in student politics. In 1962, he was elected to the Parliament of Pakistan
, of which Bangladesh was then a part, as a member of the Awami League. When Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
and other leaders of the Awami League were arrested in 1966, Chowdhury served as acting general secretary of the party until his own arrest in 1967. After his release he was active during Bangladesh's successful war for independence
in 1971. After Bangladesh's independence, he was a longtime member of Parliament. He became information minister in Mujibur Rahman's cabinet in 1973, and following Mujubur's assassination in 1975, he left that position and led a faction of the Awami League.
During the early 1980s, Chowdhury supported the takeover of Hossain Mohammad Ershad
and joined his Jatiya Party in 1984. He served as prime minister during Ershad's presidency for two years, from 1986 until he resigned in 1988. In 1990 Ershad's presidency ended. Chodhury rejoined the Awami League in 2001 and served as an advisor to the party until his death. He died in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka
and was widely mourned by politicians of all the main parties.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
politician, most notable for serving as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
The Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the Head of the Government of Bangladesh. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Jatiya Sangsad Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate...
of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
from July 9, 1986, to March 27, 1988.
Chowdhury was born in Chandpur District
Chandpur District
Chandpur is a district in east-central Bangladesh. It is located at the mouth of the Meghna River. It is a part of the Chittagong Division. The town of Chandpur is terminus of a metre gauge branch of Bangladesh Railways. It also has a water terminal situated here.-Geography:Chandpur district has a...
, in what is now Bangladesh. In college, he was involved in student politics. In 1962, he was elected to the Parliament of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, of which Bangladesh was then a part, as a member of the Awami League. When Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a Bengali nationalist politician and the founder of Bangladesh. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its...
and other leaders of the Awami League were arrested in 1966, Chowdhury served as acting general secretary of the party until his own arrest in 1967. After his release he was active during Bangladesh's successful war for independence
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
in 1971. After Bangladesh's independence, he was a longtime member of Parliament. He became information minister in Mujibur Rahman's cabinet in 1973, and following Mujubur's assassination in 1975, he left that position and led a faction of the Awami League.
During the early 1980s, Chowdhury supported the takeover of Hossain Mohammad Ershad
Hossain Mohammad Ershad
Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad is a Bangladeshi politician who was President of Bangladesh from 1983 to 1990. Previously, he was Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Army and then Chief Martial Law Administrator in 1982....
and joined his Jatiya Party in 1984. He served as prime minister during Ershad's presidency for two years, from 1986 until he resigned in 1988. In 1990 Ershad's presidency ended. Chodhury rejoined the Awami League in 2001 and served as an advisor to the party until his death. He died in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
and was widely mourned by politicians of all the main parties.