Chowdhury, Yusuf Ali
Chowdhury, Yusuf Ali (1905-1971) politician. Better known as Mohan Mia, he was born in 1905 in Faridpur town. His father Chowdhury Moyezuddin Biswas was a zamindar. Yusuf Ali had active role in anti-British movement.
Mohan Mia studied up to class X in Ishan School of Faridpur. He was involved in politics through his participation in student movement. He had vital role in Pakistan Movement and in re-organising the Muslim League. He was elected a member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1937. He was the president of Faridpur district unit of Muslim League (1941-1953), member of working committee of Bengal Muslim League (1941-1947), general secretary of East Bengal Muslim League (1947-1952). On his expulsion from the party in 1953 he joined the Krishak-Sramik Party. He was elected a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1950 and a member of the National Assembly in 1955.
Yusuf Ali was elected a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1954 as a nominee of the United Front. He was the Minister in the cabinet of ak fazlul huq in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Jute. Yusuf Ali Chowdhury had prominent role in fostering unity among the political parties in 1954, the launching of Krishak-Proja Party in 1957 under the leadership of AK Fazlul Huq, formation of National Democratic Front and later in floating Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP). Finally he joined Pakistan Democratic Party led by Nurul Amin. During Ayub regime he played a vital role in the formation of Democratic Action Committee (DAC). He was the vice president of PDM in 1970. In the elections of 1970, he was defeated to an Awami League candidate. From the very beginning of the liberation war he declared allegiance to the Pakistan government. Upon the instance of the party chief Nurul Amin, he went to Karachi on 18 November 1971. He died in Karachi on 26 November 1971. [Abu Md. Delwar Hossain]
