Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury

Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury (8 May 1935 – 11 September 2022) was a Bangladeshi politician. She served as a Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Faridpur-2 constituency from 2008 till her death in 2022. She also served as the Environment and Forest Minister of Bangladesh during 1996–2001.[1]

Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury
সৈয়দা সাজেদা চৌধুরী
Member of Parliament
for Faridpur-2
In office
12 February 2008 – 11 September 2022
Preceded byKM Obaidur Rahman
Succeeded byShahdab Akbar Chowdhury
In office
5 March 1991 – 4 November 1995
Preceded bySaifuzzaman Chowdhury Jewel
Succeeded byAbul Hossain Mia
Minister of Forest and Environment
In office
23 June 1996 – 15 July 2001
Preceded byAkbar Hossain
Succeeded byShajahan Siraj
Personal details
Born
Syeda Sajeda

(1935-05-08)8 May 1935
Magura, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died11 September 2022(2022-09-11) (aged 87)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Political partyBangladesh Awami League
SpouseGolam Akbar Chowdhury
ChildrenShahdab Akbar Chowdhury (son)
Relatives
OccupationPolitician

Early life and family

Syeda Sajeda was born on 8 May 1935 in her maternal home in Magura (formerly under Jessore District) in the then Bengal Presidency in British India.[2] Both of her parents, Syed Shah Hamidullah and Syeda Asiya Khatun, were Bengali Muslims of Syed extraction.[3] Her paternal grandmother, Syeda Hamidunnesa, belonged to a Bengali Muslim zamindar family known as the Syeds of Bamna based in Barguna.[4]

Chowdhury had a bachelor's degree.[5]

Political career

Chowdhury became the Jatiya Sangsad member from the Faridpur-2 constituency in 2008, being re-elected in 2014 and 2018,.[6] She became the Deputy Leader of the House of Jatiya Sangsad on 12 February 2019 for the third consecutive term.[7][8]

Chowdhury became the deputy leader of the House of Bangladesh Parliament in February 2009.[9] She is only woman politician who served as General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League from 1986 and held the position till 1992. Since then she was inducted into the Presidium.[10]

Chowdhury was awarded Independence Day Award in 2010 by the Government of Bangladesh.[11]

Corruption allegation

On 10 July 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Chowdhury in connection with concealing wealth worth Tk 1.38 million and amassing it illegally.[12][13] Chowdhury denied the allegation.[14] On 18 November 2008, Bangladesh High Court stayed the proceedings against her in the case which was again upheld by the Supreme Court on 15 February 2010.[12] She was granted bail by the High Court.[15] On 29 November 2010, High Court revoked the proceedings of the case on the grounds that the charges against Chowdhury were not specifically disclosed in the case.[16]

Personal life

Syeda Sajeda married Golam Akbar Chowdhury (d. 2015).[17] Their youngest son, Shahdab Akbar Chowdhury, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by a special court in 2008. He was convicted for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC.[18][19]

Chowdhury died from complications of COVID-19 in Dhaka on 11 September 2022 aged 87.[20] After her death, her son, Shahdab, selected by Awami League, ran for the vacant parliamentary position in by-poll election held on 5 November 2022.[19]

References
  1. Hunter, B. (28 December 2016). The Statesman's Year-Book 1997-8. Springer. p. 188. ISBN 9780230271265.
  2. সৈয়দা সাজেদা চৌধুরীর ৮৩তম জন্মদিন আজ [Today was the 83rd birthday of Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury] (in Bengali). Jugantor. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. "সাজেদা চৌধুরীর ৭৮তম জন্মদিন" (in Bengali). 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  4. Ahmed, Siraj Uddin (2010). "বামনার জমিদার চৌধুরী পরিবার" [The zamindar Chowdhury family of Bamna]. বরিশাল বিভাগের ইতিহাস [History of the Barisal Division] (in Bengali). Vol. 1. Dhaka: Bhaskar Prakashani.
  5. "সংসদ উপনেতা সৈয়দা সাজেদা চৌধুরীর স্বামী আকবর চৌধুরী আর নেই". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  6. "List of 11th Parliament Members". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  7. "Sajeda to be deputy leader of House". The Daily Star. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  8. "Key Person of Bangladesh Parliament". Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  9. "Sajeda new deputy leader of House". The Daily Star. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  10. "Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury dies at 87". www.dhakatribune.com. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  11. "Independence Day Award" (PDF). Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  12. "SC upholds HC order to stay case against Sajeda Chy". The Daily Star. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  13. "ACC sues Sajeda Chy, AKM Jahangir". The Daily Star. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  14. "Sajeda bins graft claims against her". The Daily Star. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  15. "Tofail, Sajeda, MK Anwar granted bail". The Daily Star. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  16. "HC quashes graft case against Sajeda". The Daily Star. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  17. "Golam Akbar Chowdhury passes away". The Daily Star. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  18. "Sajeda's son, ex-Sonali Bank MD jailed". The Daily Star. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  19. "By-polls to Sajeda Chy's Faridpur-2 seat underway". The Daily Star. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  20. "AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury dies". New Age Bangladesh. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
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