Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey
After remaining secretly and silently in hiding for about 14 years, renowned and at times much talked politician Harris Chowdhury had to leave this world in gloom. His daughter Samira Tanzin Chowdhury confirmed the reporter that he passed away at a hospital in Dhaka on September 3 in 2021, Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
He was 68.
The burial took place in a graveyard near Dhaka city. Some close ones and Ulama-Mashayekh quietly attended his namaz-e-janaza.
Since September 2021, Harris Chowdhury’s cousin Ashik Chowdhury had been hinting about this tragedy through various Facebook posts, which became the topic in discussion. Subsequently, Ashik informed the journalists that Harris Chowdhury passed away in London, UK. Since then many questions have been emerging surrounding the death report. Following persistent efforts on behalf of Just News BD, the reporter managed to talk to the deceased’s only daughter Samira Tanzin Chowdhury and she disclosed the facts.
She confirmed that her father died in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Earlier, since 1/11, for years there were numerous speculations about Harris Chowdhury’s whereabouts - some used to say he was in Britain, some said America and some thought he was in Iran. But Harris Chowdhury appears to have proven it all to be untrue after his demise- he remained in his motherland all these years-where reportedly he sometimes preached Islam on behalf of Tablig groups, and sometimes led worships as an Imam at a mosque.
While talking to Harris Chowdhury’s mourning daughter- the reporter found her to be very aggrieved- she had not gotten over the shock and tragedy of losing her father and the surrounding circumstances, she often couldn’t hold her tears as she spoke. Samira took her father to his burial ground on her own; had to arrange, by herself, all funeral formalities and then putting her father to his final rest.
Samira said, “My father was supposed to be buried beside dadu (grandmother) at our family graveyard in Kanaighat, Sylhet. But Ashik chacha (Ashik Chowdhury) wasn’t willing to risk it."
While he remained in hiding Harris Chowdhury’s family had very little contact with him, Samira said, “My father would want to endure it all by himself. He did not want to risk his children, relatives, even the political leadership he used to serve, getting into any trouble because of him, therefore refrained from maintaining any contact with anyone. Occasionally he would make telephone calls to check on everyone’s wellbeing. When he finally felt a desperate urge to see me and reached out to me, it was all over before I could be by his side.”
Samira said, “I left everything on short notice and reached Dhaka on August 27, 2021. Few hours before my arrival in Dhaka my father had been put on life support. He had severe Pneumonia in both lungs following Covid. I could not save him. Until then I didn’t want to leave his side. Fear and terror have shattered us all. Shejo Chacha (His 4th brother Salim Chowdhury) died of a stroke just over a month after my father’s demise. His 3rd brother (Hasnath Chowdhury) also passed away along with one of his sisters and four brother-in-laws over the past 14 years. I don’t know of any other family facing such tragedy within such short time frame.”
About the allegations brought against Harris Chowdhury, Samira said, “It’s all political. My father did not come to politics out of the blue. He was nominated to contest in National Parliamentary Election since 1977. He was Founder General Secretary and Divisional Organizing Secretary of Sylhet District unit BNP and Joint Secretary General of BNP’s Central Committee. President Ziaur Rahman gave him the responsibility of organizing the youth- he was the Founder Vice President of BNP’s youth wing. He served as Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s political secretary for a long time. He worked closely and for a long time with two state and government heads i.e. President Ziaur Rahman and Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Most importantly my father was a freedom fighter. He fought for his country’s freedom in an armed conflict. Of course I am immensely proud to be his daughter.”
Regarding the corruption allegations against Harris Chowdhury, Samira said, “Name one top political leader who did not/does not faces such allegations against him/her during their political career in Bangladesh! It’s in everyone’s knowledge that the basis of these allegations tend to be more political than real. The Chowdhury family is recognized as being somewhat affluent. I am aware of my family’s trawler business since birth and know about our car showroom since childhood. In both Dhaka and Sylhet, our family is renowned from the British era and been involved in politics. While serving the ruling party, my father bought a house from Rajuk in Gulshan as per government rules, which the government later cancelled and took back. What else is there to say!
My grandfather was a CO (Circle Officer), he also contested in an MLA election. He made sure his children received higher education. My father passed HSC from Notre Dame College, Dhaka and obtained Masters Degree in both Political Science and Public Administration from Dhaka University. He sent both of his children abroad to receive higher education. I studied Law and worked as a Lawyer for the British Government Legal Department (the GLD). My younger brother Nayem Chowdhury completed his Masters from London School of Economics and is now working as a Senior Energy Trader in Zurich.”
Regarding the confusion over the news of Harris Chowdhury’s death, his daughter Samira said, “I have been living abroad for 22 years. I have lost two of my uncles and one of my aunts. I don’t know anyone outside of my father’s siblings very well. I heard that my father’s cousin Ashik chacha ( Ashik Chowdhury) used to keep in touch with my father and managed my father’s orphanage (established in the name of my grandfather), madrasa ( established in the name of my grandmother), mosques and other institutions as per my father’s directions and has been taking care of these for us. I have sometimes helped towards these charities through my brother. We are very grateful to him. He has volunteered for publishing the news of my father’s death.”
Regarding Ashik’s remark that Harris Chowdhury died in London, Samira said, “He could have said this due to some pressure or situation. Perhaps for the same reason he said it would not be safe to have my father buried in Sylhet. He didn’t talk to me about this. As a child, I cannot accept or permit there to be any confusion about the passing away of a great personality like my father.”
NL/
