BNP leader Abdullah Al Noman passes away

BNP Vice Chairman and former minister Abdullah Al Noman has passed away at the age of 79.

He breathed his last at around 6am this morning (25 February) at a Dhaka hospital, reports Prothom Alo, quoting the BNP Chairperson's Media Cell. 

Shairul Kabir, a member of the BNP's Media Cell said Abdullah Al Noman suddenly fell ill at his residence in the capital's Dhanmondi early this morning.

He was quickly taken to Square Hospital, where the doctor on duty declared him dead. 

His namaz-e-janaza will be held in front of BNP central office in Nayapaltan here after Asr prayers today, confirmed BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Abdullah Al Noman was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a BNP rally today in Chattogram. The rally has been postponed following his death. 

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have mourned the death of Noman.

Hearing the news of the death of the veteran leader, Mirza Fakhrul and other senior leaders of BNP rushed to his residence at Dhanmondi.

Noman was scheduled to be the main speaker at the BNP rally in Chattogram North District today, which has been postponed due to his death.

The seasoned politician was born on 31 May, 1945, in the village of Gohira in Raouzan Upazila of Chattogram district. His father was Ahmed Kabir Chowdhury. 

Noman served as the Fisheries and Livestock Minister after winning the 1991 election from the Chattogram's Kotwali constituency, and later as the Food Minister after his victory in the 2001 elections.

He began his political journey in the early 1960s as a member of the Chhatra Union, while protesting against the Hamidur Rahman Education Commission. He served as general secretary of Chattogram City Chhatra Union, president of Greater Chattogram, and central organizing secretary.

After his student life, he became involved in labour politics under Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and served as vice president of the East Bengal Labor Federation. He later became active in the pro-Bhasani NAP, eventually taking responsibility as its central organizing secretary in 1970.

He joined the Liberation War in 1971, and after independence, he continued his involvement in NAP politics. 

In 1981, Noman joined the BNP, founded by former president Ziaur Rahman. He was a prominent leader in the party and a significant figure in Chattogram's political sphere. He played a key role in strengthening BNP's organizational base and had a long and distinguished political career.