Chowdhury, Abdul Halim
Chowdhury, Abdul Halim (1928-1987) army officer, politician. He was born on 1 February 1928 at village Elachipur in Shivalaya thana of Manikganj district. His father was Abdul Matin Chowdhury and mother Hasina Chowdhury. He matriculated from Faridpur Zilla School and passed Intermediate from Rajshahi College. Chowdhury obtained BA (Hons) in Economics from Rajshahi University and got himself admitted in MA class in Dhaka University. But while a student he joined the Pakistan army in 1950.At the beginning of his career in the army he worked as the Adjutant and Quarter Master in the First Punjab Regiment, ADC to the GOC of 14th Division and as the commanding officer of UOTC Battalion of East Pakistan. But due to ill health he voluntarily retired from Pakistan army in 1962. After retirement he joined the then East Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (EPIDC). He was entrusted with responsibility of implementing the government decision to establish a sugar mill in Kushtia.
Abdul Halim Chowdhury joined the National Awami Party (NAP) in 1966. He had vital role in the formation of Manikganj Biplobi Parishad during the War of Liberation. Armed training of the freedom fighters was initiated in Manikganj under his leadership. Mujibnagar government appointed him as the commander of the Dhaka Sadar and Gazipur military zone consisting of twenty two thanas.After liberation, Chowdhury became active in politics again. After the formation of United People’s Party he was made its president.
He was elected a member of the Jatiya Sangsad in 1979 as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He was the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative in the cabinet of Ziaur Rahman, and was in charge of the Ministry of Food and Relief in the cabinet of Abdus Sattar. He was a member of the national executive committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. During Ershad regime he joined the Jatiya Party and was a member of the cabinet in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
He died on 7 October 1987. [Abu Md. Delwar Hossain]
