Final homage paid to Abdul Gaffar Choudhury
Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor,Shottobani
London: Hundreds of people paid homage to the mortal remains of Abdul Gaffar Choudhury, the creator of the Ekushey song.
Following the arrival of the legendary writer, journalist & composer of Ekushey song Abdul Gaffar Choudhury to Dhaka on Saturday, 28 May, on behalf of the government, the Minister of Liberation War Affairs A K M Mozammel Haque received the body and paid homage. Gaffar Choudhury’s body was then taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 1.15 pm. People from all walks queued to pay their respects. His body was then taken to the National Press Club at 4 pm for journalists to pay homage.
After paying homage and giving a guard of honour, the funeral prayer was held at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University at 3.30 pm and taken to the national press club at 4 pm. Finally, his body was buried at the Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Cemetery at 5.30 pmnext to his wife as his last wish.
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury came to London in 1974 for the treatment of his wife with the support of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Today, almost five decades later, the daughter of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had arranged for his burial in his beloved homeland, next to the grave of his beloved wife.
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury passed away on Thursday, 19 May, at Barnett hospital while undergoing treatment. He was 88 years old. A source close to the family said he was suffering from old age complications. After the first Namaz-e-Janaza of Abdul Gaffar Choudhury at the Brick Lane Mosque in East London on Friday, 20 May, people of all walks of life, including members of the British-Bangladeshi community, paid their last respects to him at the Shaheed Minar in the historic Altab Ali Park in East London.
On Saturday, 21 May, a virtual memorial service was held at the initiative of UK Bangla Reporters Unity and online Focus TV on 21 May for the legendary journalist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury. Mohammad Shahed Rahman conducted the programme in a live virtual commemoration meeting from Focus TV in England. Kazi Ziaul Hasan, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh High Commission in Manchester, Syed Faruk, General Secretary of UK Awami League, former President of London Bangla Press Club, Nobab Uddin, Vice President of UK Bangla Reporters Unity Matiar Chowdhury, Aminul Haque Oyes, Manchester Representative of ATN Bangla UK, Jewel Raj, UK Representative of Kaler Kantha amongst others took part in the meeting reminiscing the life and work of celebrated writer Abdul Gaffar Choudhury. The speakers said Abdul Gaffar Choudhury will live among the people for a long time through his creative work and will be remembered forever for his Ekushey song.
On Sunday 22 May, a Milad and dua for Abdul Gaffar Choudhury and his daughter Binita Afroze Choudhury who passed away on 13th April was held on Sunday 22nd May at the Brick Lane Mosque, organised by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury’s son Anupom Reza Choudhury and daughters Tanima Choudhury-Fieret, Chinmoyee Choudhury and Indira Choudhury.
Khatib of Brick Lane Nazrul Islam led the prayer. Prior to Milad, former Minister of State for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku MP, Gaffar Choudhury’s son Anupam Reza Choudhury, Assistant High Commissioner Zahidul Islam, High Commission Minister (Press) Ashequn Nabi Choudhury and Gaffar Choudhury’s grandson Jacob Choudhury spoke on occasion.
On Monday, 23 May, Bangladesh High Commission London organised a Milad Mehfil and Condolence meeting dedicated to the late luminary at the Impression Events Venue, East London. Dr Dipu Moni MP, Hon’ble Education Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, said Gaffar Chowdhury was our beacon. He did not compromise on the spirit of liberation war and Bangabandhu. Starting from the language movement to the liberation war, his contribution will be forever remembered. Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to London, spoke on various aspects of Abdul Gaffar Choudhury’s life at the beginning of the post-Milad discussion session. Former Home Minister Shamsul Haque Tuku MP, British MP of Bangladeshi descent Rushanara Ali, Gaffar Choudhury’s daughter Tanima Choudhury, and grandson Jacob Choudhury took part in the discussion on various aspects of Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury’s life.
In 1974, Abdul Gaffar Choudhury moved to the United Kingdom (UK) for the treatment of his ailing wife. On 18 December 2012, Abdul Gaffar Choudhury’s wife Selima Choudhury died in London.
In the early days after moving to the UK, he worked in various places, including a grocery store, BBC Bengali service as an outside contributor in 1984/1985, and as an interpreter at an immigration tribunal.
Following the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1976, he published a weekly newspaper, ‘Banglar Dak’, to demand justice, counter propaganda and propagate Bangabandhu’s ideal. At the same time also worked for a while in the progressive weekly Jagaran newspaper. In 1987, he published the newspaper ‘Notun Din’campaigning against autocratic rule. Then in 1990, he brought out ‘Notun Desh’ and in 1991 ‘Purbo Desh’. Abdul Gaffar Choudhury used to write regularly on politics, contemporary events, and international affairs in the major newspapers. He wrote a column in the weekly Janomot titled ‘Dhire Bahe Buriganga’. It was a very popular column. He stopped writing for a while. In 1990 he started writing a new column, ‘Tritio moth’. He also wrote a column titled ‘Jibon Theke Neya’. His writings were so popular that if they were not published, readers would call and ask for an explanation of why his column was not published. One of the reasons for the popularity of Janomot was Abdul Gaffar Choudhury’s column.
He also dramatised several plays, including Nobab Uddin’s play ‘New Home’ staged at Logan Hall, London in 1997, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, and Aston University in Birmingham. Gaffar Choudhury wrote the script for other Nobab Uddin’s plays, including Anal, Bhalobasha chai, Marichika and Saira. Abdul Gaffar Choudhury had produced a play on the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called Polashi Theke Dhanmondi and Ershad Mariamer kechcha against military rule.
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury was also very much involved with the UK Bengali diaspora. He taught children to learn Bangla in a community school. He was involved with BENTH, an organisation set up to improve the educational achievements of the community. He acted as advisor and patron to numerous cultural, social and political organisations, including the Nirmul Committee. He was awarded the Freedom of London Borough of Tower Hamlets. In 1999 Tower Hamlets granted him the Honorary Freeman for his exceptional contribution in the borough. Abdul Gaffar Choudhury was also a lifelong member of the London Bangla Press Club. He was an award winner of the 2010 BritishBangladeshi Who’s Who. In addition, the British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration listed him under media.