Matia Chowdhury

Matia Chowdhury
মতিয়া চৌধুরী
Chowdhury in 2013
Minister of Agriculture
In office
6 January 2009 – 7 January 2019
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byIqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku
Succeeded byMohammad Abdur Razzaque
Member of Parliament
for Sherpur-2
In office
25 January 2009 – 6 August 2024
Preceded byZahed Ali
In office
5 March 1991 – 13 July 2001
Preceded byAbdus Salam
Succeeded byZahed Ali
Presidium Member of Bangladesh Awami League
In office
21 December 2021 – 16 October 2024
Personal details
Born(1942-06-30)30 June 1942
Nazirpur, Pirojpur District, Bengal Province, British Raj
Died16 October 2024(2024-10-16) (aged 82)
Evercare Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Political partyAwami League
SpouseBazlur Rahman
EducationUniversity of Dhaka
Criminal Information
Criminal statusDeceased without facing trials.
Criminal chargeCrimes against humanity during Student–People's uprising

Matia Chowdhury (Bengali: মতিয়া চৌধুরী, romanizedMatiẏā caudhurī; 30 June 1942 – 16 October 2024) was a Awami League leader and one of the key perpetrators of the July massacre orchestrated and executed by Sheikh Hasina's toppled regime.[1][2][3][4] She passed away while awaiting trial for crimes against humanity due to her active involvement in the violent suppression of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement during the Student–People's uprising.[5]

She was a deputy leader of parliament,[6] and a Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Sherpur-2 constituency from 2009 to 2024.[7] She held the position of minister of agriculture under the first, second and third premierships of Sheikh Hasina,[8][9] from 1996 to 2001 and then again from 2009 to 2019 during the periods when the Bangladesh Awami League held power.[10] Known as a veteran politician from the Awami League, she ultimately ended her career with a toppled authoritarian regime facing serious criminal charges for her role in the gross violations of human rights.[11][12]

  1. ^ "Bangladesh mourns some 200 deaths as student protests wind down and thousands are arrested". AP News. 31 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Two cases filed against 23 people including Hasina for crimes against humanity". UNB. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "3 more ICT cases filed against Hasina". The Daily Star. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  4. ^ "2 more murder cases filed against Hasina -". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Two cases filed against 23 people including Hasina for crimes against humanity". UNB.
  6. ^ "Matia Chowdhury becomes deputy leader of parliament". Dhaka Tribune. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  7. ^ "List of 11th Parliament Members". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  8. ^ "SAARC agricultural cooperation gets new momentum: Bangladesh Minister Matia". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  9. ^ "$4.8 million USAID grant to strengthen biotechnology partnership, food security in South". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Hon'ble-Ministers". Cabinet Division – Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
  11. ^ "Five more cases filed against Hasina, aides".
  12. ^ Regan, Helen (6 August 2024). "Bangladesh's 'Gen Z revolution' toppled a veteran leader. Why did they hit the streets and what happens now?". CNN. Retrieved 26 October 2024.