 |
|
Professor Dr. A. Q. M. Bradruddoza Chowdhury K.C.Memorial Clinic, 35 Suhrawardi Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka -1212 Proponent of “Alternative Stream of Politics” and former president of the Republic, Professor Dr. A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury earned a wide repute as a leading physician and health campaigner of the country long before he stepped into the country’s political arena in mid 1970s. His quality and talent took him to the limelight surpassing his image as a specialist doctor within a relatively short period and in 2001 he became the 14th president of Throughout his career in the current political process largely dominated by arrogance, money and muscle, Professor Chowdhury kept his widely acknowledged distinction with decency as well as elegance as a second-generation politician. Son of late Kafiludin Chowdhury, a leading civil lawyer, member of the then Pakistan Provincial Assembly, minister of 1954 United Front (Jukto Front), Prof Chowdhury was born at his maternal grandfather’s home in Comilla. He had his schooling in Dhaka’s prestigious St Gregory School from where he passed matriculation with the second position in the merit list. He obtained his MBBS degree from Dhaka Medical College and later elected to the fellowships from all three different Royal College of Physicians of London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The youngest full professor of the medical colleges of the then East Pakistan, Prof Chowdhury appeared as a pioneering health campaigner and developed a popular image as a television presenter with his famous programme Apnar Daktar (your doctor) in late 1960s. He became a household name among common people anchoring a number of health and nutrition programmes in television until 1996. He was adjudged as the “best television presenter” and won the Bangladesh Jatiya Televion Puroshkar (state-run television award) in 1977. Prof Chowdhury was elected twice the chairman of the Asia-Pacific region of the Paris-based International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) and was president of NATAB and National Aids Committee. He is also the founder and chairman of the country’s first Medical College for Women. Prof. Chowdhury made is debut in politics in 1977 when he joined as the Health Adviser of the then government of President Ziaur Rahman at his request. In 1979 he became the founding Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and subsequently the Senior Deputy Prime Minister of the country. The license of BNP was issued on his application. During the five terms of BNP in government he was entrusted with the responsibilities of a number of ministries including Health and Family Planning, Education, Science and Technology and Culture, and Foreign Affairs. He never saw defeat in parliament elections and people of his Munshiganj-1 (Sirajdikhan-Srinagar) constituency elected him for five times and every time with wide margin. Prof Chowdhury is widely acknowledged for his role in building the country’s health infrastructures as he actually stepped into politics as the Health Adviser to materialize his idea of “palli chikitshak” to train and equip typical village doctors with necessary skills and knowledge to serve the vast majority of people in rural Bangladesh. He was the key figure in launching the crucial health campaigns like EPI (expanded programme for immunization) and BCG vaccination campaign, which now earned worldwide acclamation. Prof Chowdhury kept his distinction and brilliance with newer ideas while discharging his responsibilities in different portfolios. His diplomatic manoeuvring capacity contributed largely to Bangladesh’s election to the UN Security Council defeating an influential rival like Japan in 1978 at the same time maintaining the friendly relations with this major development partner. As President’s envoy, he visited and successfully pursued the then Soviet Union as to change their decision and extend support for Bangladesh. Earlier, Soviet Union-led communist block had nominated Mongolia as their common candidate for the membership in the Security Council. Prof Chowdhury has the honour to address the United Nations General Assembly thrice at different times on behalf of the country. Widely acknowledged for his role as a brilliant orator and veteran parliamentarian, Prof Chowdhury discharged his responsibilities both as the Deputy Leader of the House and Opposition when BNP was in the treasury and opposition bench in different periods. During the autocratic regime from 1981 to 1990, Prof Chowdury, as a BNP helmsman, played distinct role in shaping the pro-people democratic movement, which eventually toppled the Ershad government, and BNP subsequently was elected to government. When BNP-led Four Party Alliance was elected in 2001, Prof Chowdhury was initially entrusted with the responsibility of the foreign ministry for a brief period until he was elected as the President of the Republic, after resigning from all position of the political party. Despite being a Head of State under parliamentary form of government, his brief presence in Bangabhaban (Presidential palace) elevated the highest office of the Republic into the height of its moral standard. Although he was nominated by BNP, Prof Chowdhury’s activities reflected his willingness to be the President of the Country, which apparently caused a conflict between the Government and the Presidency against the backdrop of existing crude pattern of politics, which demands the Head of the State to virtually be a sycophant of the Ruling party. Prof Chowdhury resigned from the presidency only after just over seven months period when BNP lawmakers sent him a Resolution saying, they had no more confidence on him as he did not visit the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman in line with a party programme to mark his death anniversary. It was not a constitutional obligation, but his personal sense of democratic ethics prompted him to quit when Prof Chowdhury said he would be available to respond to the call of the nation in any necessity. Contrary to the expectation of the people from the government, continued deterioration of law and order, growing dominance of undemocratic center of power, massive political and financial corruption among people linked to state power, government failure to check price spiral of essentials putting common peoples life in miseries prompting Prof Chowdhury to emerge with a new role in politics with his idea of “Alternate Stream of Politics”, in an attempt to bring the politics in its desired direction. Happily married with Mrs. Hasina Warda Chowdhury, Prof Chowdhury is the father of two daughters and a son and three grandchildren. He is the recipient of the highest national award, the Independence Day Award. Author of a number of books on travel, politics, health and nutrition, fiction, drama autobiography, satires, books for children etc, Prof Chowdhury has a passion for agriculture, cooking, recitation and music. |
|