Choudhury, Khan Bahadur Abdul Majid

Choudhury, Khan Bahadur Abdul Majid a pioneer of islamic education. He was born in Mahipur Zamindar family of Rangpur in 1860. He passed the Entrance Examination from Rangpur Zila School in 1879 and obtained his graduation from Kolkata Alia Madrasa in 1881. He was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur in 1896 in recognition of his social welfare activities, and was appointed an honorary magistrate. Between 1890 and 1912, he was a member of the District Board and discharged responsibilities as chairman and member of various sub-committees of the Board. He was elected as president of the Rangpur unit of the central national muhamedan association floated under the leadership of syed ameer ali. Lt. Governor of Bengal, George Woodburn (1899-1903) came to visit Rangpur Madrasa on 11 July 1899 at his initiative. It was by his effort that the Madrasas of Rangpur district received grants from the District Board and the mohsin fund.

In 1898, Abdul Majid Choudhury was elected president of the Rangpur district branch of the National Mohamedan Association. He attempted to project the faults in education policy of the government and the reasons behind the backwardness of Muslim community in education. Abdul Majid Choudhury submitted a proposal to the government suggesting reform in madrasa education in cohesion with the syllabus of Primary and Middle English schools. The then Director of Public Instruction, Sir Alexander Padler accepted his proposals and helped in formulating a Madrasa Education Policy. Abdul Majid Choudhury was a dedicated campaigner for introducing compulsory primary education in 1911 by the government. His last contribution was to include the maktab education system in the grant-in-aid programme of the government. He was the founder vice president of Rangpur Sahitya Parisad, a branch of bangiya sahitya parishat . He died on 11 November 1912. [Muhammad Maniruzzaman]