A Man for All Seasons

Abu Sayeed Chowdhury

Abu Sayeed Chowdhury (1921-1987) was a renowned jurist, academician, and diplomat and was the second President of Bangladesh. His wise leadership in different sectors played a significant role in shaping Bangladesh's progressive future. We remember this great personality on his 27th death anniversary.

Abu Sayeed Choudhury was born on January 5, 1921 to a prominent family of Nagbari in Tangail District
His father Abdul Hamid Chowdhury was the speaker of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly
Abu Sayeed Chowdhury graduated in 1940 from the Presidency College, Calcutta
He  obtained his Masters and Law degrees from Calcutta University in 1942 and then completed Bar at Law

Abu Sayeed Chowdhury  joined the Dhaka High Court Bar in 1948
In 1960, he was appointed advocate general of East Pakistan
He played an important role in developing the constitution of Pakistan as a member of the Constitution Commission (1960-61)
He also served as the Chairman of Bengali Development Board (1963-1968)

Chowdhury was appointed as the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University in 1969
In 1971, while in Geneva he resigned from his post as vice-chancellor as a protest against the genocide in East Pakistan by the Pakistan army
From Geneva he went to the UK and became the special envoy of the provisional 'Mujibnagar' government
Later he served as the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in the UK

After liberation, Justice Chowdhury returned to Dhaka and was elected as President of Bangladesh on 12 January 1972
On 10 April 1973, he was again elected as President of Bangladesh, but he resigned in the same year
After Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was assassinated, he served as the minister for Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of President Khondakar Mostaq Ahmad till November 7, 1975
In 1985, he was elected chairman of the UN Human Rights Commission

Chowdhury authored four books titled "Probashe Muktijuddher Dinguli", "Manobadhikar", "Muslim Family Law in the English Courts" and "Human Rights in the Twentieth Century”
He was honoured with the title of 'Deshikottam' by Visvabharati University
Calcutta University awarded him the honourary degree of Doctor of Law
Justice Chowdhury died of a heart attack  in London on 2 August 1987 and was buried in his village, Nagbari of Tangail