Staff Reporter :
BNP Vice-Chairman, former minister, and valiant freedom fighter Abdullah Al Noman passed away in Dhaka on Tuesday at the age of 79.
“Noman suddenly fell ill at his Dhanmondi residence early this morning and was immediately taken to Square Hospital, where the attending doctor pronounced him dead around 6 a.m.,” said Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP Chairperson’s Media Cell.
He leaves behind his wife, a son, a daughter, grandsons, granddaughters, numerous relatives, friends, well-wishers, and political associates.
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have expressed deep grief and sorrow over his passing.
Shairul Kabir Khan also mentioned that the party would soon decide on the arrangements for his namaz-e-janaza and burial.
Upon hearing the news, Mirza Fakhrul and other senior BNP leaders rushed to Noman’s residence in Dhanmondi. His sudden demise has cast a shadow of mourning over the political sphere, BNP, Chattogram, and the country as a whole. Tributes and heartfelt condolences have been pouring in on social media, with people from all walks of life offering prayers for his departed soul.
Noman was supposed to be the keynote speaker at a BNP rally in Chattogram North District today, but the event has been postponed following his death.
The veteran politician was born on May 31, 1945, in the village of Gohira in Rauzan Upazila of Chattogram district. His father was Ahmed Kabir Chowdhury.
Noman served as the Fisheries and Livestock Minister after winning the 1991 parliamentary election from Chattogram’s Kotwali constituency. Later, he took charge as the Food Minister following his victory in the 2001 elections.
He embarked on his political journey in the early 1960s, joining the Chhatra Union and actively opposing the Hamidur Rahman Education Commission. He held key leadership positions, including General Secretary of Chattogram City Chhatra Union, President of Greater Chattogram, and Central Organizing Secretary.
After his student years, he became involved in labor politics under the guidance of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and served as Vice-President of the East Bengal Labor Federation. He later joined the pro-Bhasani NAP, assuming the role of Central Organizing Secretary in 1970.
During the Liberation War of 1971, Noman actively participated in the struggle. After independence, he continued his association with NAP politics.
In 1981, he joined the BNP, founded by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. As a prominent leader in the party, he played a crucial role in BNP’s organizational expansion and remained an influential figure in Chattogram’s political landscape throughout his long and illustrious career.
