Chowdhury, Najma

Chowdhury, Najma (1942-2021) former Professor of Political Science and Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka, specialist in gender studies, author, recipient of ‘Ekushey Padak’, advisor to the Non-party Caretaker Government.

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Najma Chowdhury

Najma Chowdhury was born in Sylhet under the province of Assam in India (now, in Bangladesh) on 26 February 1942 in a noble family. Her father’s name was Chowdhury Imamuzzaman and her mother was Amirunnesa Khatun. While father was a Civil Engineer, mother was a humble housewife.

Najma Chowdhury had a brilliant academic feat. She had her early education, first, in Assam and, next, in Dhaka and Rajshahi as her father’s posting was transferable from one place to another. She had her Matriculation in First Division from Kamrunnesa Girls’ School, Dhaka, in 1956 securing 8th position in order of merit among girls. She passed her Intermediate in First Division from Dhaka Holy Cross College in 1958 holding 9th position in the combined merit list. She secured First Class in both BA (Honours) and MA in Political Science from Dhaka University in 1961 and 1962, respectively. She obtained her PhD degree in Political Science in 1972 from the University of London on Commonwealth scholarship under the supervision of an internationally eminent political scientist, n Professor WH Morris-Jones.

Najma Chowdhury had a long successful academic career, starting with the joining of Political Science Department, University of Dhaka, in 1963 as a lecturer up to her retirement from the Department of Women and Gender Studies in 2007. In 1986, she became Professor of Political Science, while holding the position of Chairperson of the same department during 1984-1987. In 1988, she was a visiting scholar at the University of Minnesota, USA, under Fulbright Fellowship for a period of three months. She pioneered the establishment of the Department of Women and Gender Studies in Dhaka University in 2000, becoming its founder Chair for the period from 2000 to 2003. She retired from the Department as Professor in 2007 on the completion of 45 years of teaching career. In 2008, she was made Professor Emeritus of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka.

Najma Chowdhury had a number of publications to her credit. Her notable works include The Legislative Process in Bangladesh: Politics and Functioning of the East Bengal Legislature, 1947-58, (University of Dhaka 1980) and Najma Chowdhury and Barbara J Nelsen (eds), Women and Politics Worldwide, (Yale University 1994). Her second book was accredited as the Best of the Year by the American Political Science Association. Najma Chowdhury had also written several monographs on gender studies.

Besides academic life, Najma Chowdhury discharged several other responsibilities. As a member of delegations, she represented Bangladesh in the UN General Assembly twice in 1978 and 1986.She participated UNESCO General Conference held in Belgrade in 1980.She also attended the World Conference of Women in Nairobi in 1985 and in Bejing in 1995, playing a leading role. Professor Najma Chowdhury was an Advisor to the Caretaker Government in 1996 headed by Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman. In 2007, she was appointed ‘Rokeya Chair’ by the Bangladesh University Grants Commission. She was awarded ‘Ekushey Padak’, the second highest state award for civilian, in 2008 for her contributions to education and research.

In 1961, Najma Chowdhury was married to Mainur Reza Chowdhury, who later became Chief Justice of Bangladesh during 2002-2003. In 2004, he passed away. Najma Chowdhury was a mortal victim of COVID-19 and she was 79 when she died 8 August, in 2021. She was buried in Banani graveyard. This couple left behind two daughters. [Harun-or-Rashid]

Source Provided by Najma Chowdhury’s younger daughter, Bushra Hasina Chowdhury, faculty of International Relations, University of Dhaka, on 3 April 2023.