Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's 15th death anniversary observed with humble respect in Shibpur

Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's 15th death anniversary observed with humble respect in Shibpur

National Desk :    |    ০২:১৩ পিএম, ২০২৫-০৭-২৮

Alam Khan: Today, Monday (July 28), is the 15th death anniversary of former Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and former Secretary General of BNP Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

On the occasion of the day, former Upazila Chairman Alhaj Arif ul Islam Mridha, on behalf of A:Mannan Bhuiyan Parishad, along with his followers, laid wreaths at A:Mannan Bhuiyan's tomb, organized a discussion meeting and a prayer mahfil, as well as A:Mannan Bhuiyan's comrades, political, social, organizations observed this day in a befitting manner. On this occasion, prayers were organized in every mosque and temple of Narsingdi-3 (Shibpur) constituency.

It is worth mentioning that on this day in 2010, he died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was born on March 1, 1943, in the house of his grandfather Syed Ali Pandit in Asadnagar village of Chandanbari union of Monohardi upazila. His ancestral home is in Machimpur village of Machimpur union of Shibpur upazila. His educational life began in the primary school of his village. After passing SSC from Shibpur High School and HSC from Narsingdi College, he was later admitted to Dhaka University. Mannan Bhuiyan received his honors and master's degrees from the history department. Along with his university degree, he also obtained an LLB degree. Mannan Bhuiyan got involved in politics during his school life. He was active in politics at the college and university levels. His journey in student politics began through his involvement with the student union.

In 1960, Mannan Bhuiyan was elected as the Social Service Secretary of the Narsingdi College Students' Union. As one of the organizers of the East Pakistan Students' Union, he played a leading role in the anti-Ayub movement in 1962. In 1964, he was elected as the Organizing Secretary of the East Pakistan Students' Union and later as the General Secretary of the organization.

He was elected as an executive member in the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) elections in 1964-65. He was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the East Pakistan Students' Union (MENON). Mannan Bhuiyan had to be imprisoned during his student life on charges of involvement in the anti-Ayub movement. The Ayub government also arrested him before his honors examination. After his student life, Mannan Bhuiyan joined the National Awami Party-NAP led by Maulana Bhashani.

He played an active role in the 1969 mass uprising. Mannan Bhuiyan was elected as the General Secretary of the United People's Party (UPP) from NAP in 1978. In 1980, Mannan Bhuiyan joined the BNP at the invitation of former President Ziaur Rahman. He was given the responsibility of convenor of the party's organ, the Nationalist Farmers' Party. He was also the agricultural affairs secretary of the party's central committee.

In 1988, Mannan Bhuiyan was given the responsibility of Joint Secretary General of the BNP. He served in this position for 8 and a half years until June 25, 1996. On June 26 of the same year, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia nominated him as the party's Secretary General. Mannan Bhuiyan served as the BNP's Secretary General for 11 years.

After the political upheaval of 1/11, Begum Zia expelled Mannan Bhuiyan from the post of Secretary General and from the party on September 3, 2007, when the party proposed reforms during the state of emergency.

During the Liberation War, he led the liberation war by declaring a free zone over a vast area including Shibpur in Narsingdi. He was the commander of three regions. He was also one of the architects of BNP in the movement against the dictator Ershad.

In 1991, he served as the Minister of Labor and Manpower and later as the Minister of Agriculture and Food in Begum Khaleda Zia's first government. In the 2001 elections, the BNP led government won a majority of seats in the 4 parties. He was the Minister of Local Government in the coalition government.

In his personal life, Mannan Bhuiyan is the father of two sons. The elder son, Bhuiyan Anind Mohaymen Rajan, works in a multinational company in Australia. The younger son, Bhuiyan Nandit Nahian Sajan, works at America City Charters Bank Bangladesh.

His wife, Professor Mariam Begum, was the principal of Dhaka College. He later retired from the post of principal and died while undergoing treatment at Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka on 9 February 2021.

Mannan Bhuiyan was elected as a member of parliament from Narsingdi-3 Shibpur constituency four times in a row in the fifth National Parliament. He was last elected as an independent candidate in the 2008 National Parliament election and was defeated.

22 months after being expelled from the BNP, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and breathed his last at the Square Hospital in the capital Dhaka in the early hours of 28 July 2010.

After his death, he was buried at his home in Dhanua, adjacent to Shibpur Shahid Asad College.

Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was a popular politician and leader of Bangladesh. He was an uncompromising fighter in the struggle to establish basic human rights. His ideals never changed during his long journey from the organizing secretary of the East Pakistan Students Union to the secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). This great man was a man of good governance and a colorful political life.