Rezaul Karim Chowdhury (Bengali: রেজাউল করিম চৌধুরী; born 31 May 1953)[1] is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the 6th mayor of Chattogram. He is also the joint general secretary of Chattogram Mahanagar Awami League.[2][3] He was elected mayor in 2021 and removed in 2024 after a district court found evidence of election rigging.
Rezaul Karim Choudhury | |
|---|---|
রেজাউল করিম চৌধুরী | |
 | |
| 6th Mayor of Chittagong | |
| In office 15 February 2021 – 19 August 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Khorshed Alam Sujon (as Administrator) |
| Succeeded by | Md. Tofayel Islam (as Administrator) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 May 1953 Chittagong, East Bengal, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
| Spouse | Selina Akter |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Bahaddarbari, Bahaddarhat |
| Alma mater | University of Chittagong |
| Profession | Businessman, politician |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | 
Mukti Bahini |
| Years of service | 1971 |
| Battles/wars | Bangladesh Liberation War |
Early life and education
editChowdhury 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
editChowdhury 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.[7]
He abandoned his position and did not appear at his office after the fall of the Awami Legaue government amid the 2024 student-people's uprising. The interim government removed the mayor on 19 August and appointed Chattogram divisional commissioner Md Tofael Hossain as administrator.[7]
Personal life
editChowdhury is married to Selina Akter and has a son and two daughters.[1]
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "Rezaul Karim Elected Chittagong City Mayor". Dhaka Tribune. 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury wins CCC Mayoral polls". New Age. 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Rezaul Karim to contest Chattogram city polls with boat symbol; Shafiul from Dhaka-10". The Daily Star. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "Feuding Al Factions in Ctg: 'Go alone' policy got Rezaul ticket". The Daily Star. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "'Voters trusted my manifesto'". The Daily Star. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "Court declares BNP leader Shahadat Hossain Chattogram mayor". Prothom Alo. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Dhaka city mayors to get status of minister". The Business Standard. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.