Rezaul Karim Chowdhury

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Rezaul Karim Choudhury
রেজাউল করিম চৌধুরী
6th Mayor of Chittagong
In office
15 February 2021 – 19 August 2024
Preceded byKhorshed Alam Sujon (as Administrator)
Succeeded byMd. Tofayel Islam (as Administrator)
Personal details
Born (1953-05-31) 31 May 1953 (age 71)
Chittagong, East Bengal, Pakistan
NationalityBangladeshi
Political partyBangladesh Awami League
SpouseSelina Akter
Children3
Residence(s)Bahaddarbari, Bahaddarhat
Alma mater
ProfessionBusinessman, politician
Military service
Branch/service Mukti Bahini
Years of service1971
Battles/warsBangladesh Liberation War

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury (Bengali: রেজাউল করিম চৌধুরী; born 31 May 1953)[1] is a Bangladeshi politician who has served as the 6th mayor of Chattogram. He is also the joint general secretary of Chattogram Mahanagar Awami League.[2][3] He was elected in 2021 and removed in 2024 on evidence of election rigging.

Early life and education

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Chowdhury was born on 31 May 1953 in East Sholashahar ward 7 in Chittagong. He studied at East Sholashahar Primary School. He completed his S. S. C. from Government Muslim High School and H. S. C. from Chittagong College. He has a B.A. from the University of Chittagong.[1]

Career

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Chowdhury was the president of Bangladesh Chhatra League unit from 1972 to 1976. From 1976 to 1978, he was the general secretary of the North Chittagong District unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League.[1]

Chowdhury worked in the Chittagong City unit of the Awami League from 1997 to 2006 as the information and research secretary. He then became the organising secretary of the city unit; a position he held till 2014 when he became the joint general secretary.[1]

Chowdhury was nominated by Awami League to contest the Chittagong City elections in 2020.[4] The party did not nominate the incumbent and Awami League politician AJM Nasir Uddin on instructions from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Chittagong city Awami League was divided into two fractions; led by A J M Nasir Uddin and the family of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury. Chowdhury got the nomination by not being involved in either fraction.[5] He went on to win the election receiving 369,000 votes while his nearest rival from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party received 52,000 votes in a rigged election.[6][7] He received the status of state minister on 7 August 2022.[8] Later in 2024, the court found evidence of election rigging for the election.[9]

He abandoned his position and did not appear at his office after the fall of the Awami Legaue government amid the student-people's uprising on 5th August. The interim government removed the mayor on 19th August and appointed Chattogram divisional commissioner Md Tofael Hossain as administrator.[10]

Personal life

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Chowdhury is married to Selina Akter and has a son and two daughters.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Life sketch of CCC mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury". The Independent. Dhaka. BSS. 28 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Rezaul Karim Elected Chittagong City Mayor". Dhaka Tribune. 28 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury wins CCC Mayoral polls". New Age. 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Rezaul Karim to contest Chattogram city polls with boat symbol; Shafiul from Dhaka-10". The Daily Star. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Feuding Al Factions in Ctg: 'Go alone' policy got Rezaul ticket". The Daily Star. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  6. ^ "'Voters trusted my manifesto'". The Daily Star. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  7. ^ Correspondent, Staff (1 October 2024). "Court declares BNP leader Shahadat Hossain Chattogram mayor". Prothomalo. Retrieved 8 November 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "Dhaka city mayors to get status of minister". The Business Standard. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  9. ^ Correspondent, Staff (1 October 2024). "Court declares BNP leader Shahadat Hossain Chattogram mayor". Prothomalo. Retrieved 8 November 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Correspondent, Staff (1 October 2024). "Court declares BNP leader Shahadat Hossain Chattogram mayor". Prothomalo. Retrieved 8 November 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)