CHITTAGONG, July 29 (Staff Reporter, CTG MAIL  )

Family members, admirers, and civic leaders gathered on Saturday to commemorate the 31st death anniversary of Nurul Absar Choudhury, a respected politician, social activist, and advocate for education, whose contributions left an enduring mark on Chattogram’s social and political landscape.

The day’s observance began at his ancestral village in Silai Garha, Anwara upazila, where well-wishers paid floral tribute at his grave, followed by Quran recitation and special prayers seeking eternal peace for the departed.

Commemorative programmes later continued at two venues in the city — the headquarters of NAC Memorial Foundation in Agrabad, and Choudhury’s residence in Chandgaon. Both events drew a diverse gathering of former colleagues, community organisers, and social workers who reflected on his life and legacy.

Speakers recalled Choudhury as a fearless student leader during the Pakistan regime. As General Secretary of the Chattogram District Student Federation, he played a critical role in pivotal movements including the 1962 education commission protests, the 1964 franchise movement, and the 1969 mass uprising. His engagement with the 1971 Liberation War was also noted, where he is remembered for offering logistical and moral support to freedom fighters.

Throughout his life, Choudhury held several positions of civic importance:
He served as President of Chattogram Metropolitan Democratic League, Advisor to the Chattogram City Corporation, Chairman of the Cosmopolitan City Implementation Council, and Director of the Islamabad Town Co-operative Credit Society.

His commitment extended to religious and healthcare institutions — among them, Anjuman-e-Rahmaniya Ahmadia Sunnia, the Diabetic Association, Mother & Child Hospital, and the Chattogram College Alumni Association, where he was a lifetime member.

A Call for Recognition

Participants at the memorial event made a public appeal for a city street to be named after Nurul Absar Choudhury.
“His legacy deserves a permanent place in the public consciousness. Naming a road after him would be a fitting tribute,” said one speaker, urging Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain to consider the proposal seriously.

The discussion was presided over by Engr Md Javed Absar Choudhury, Chairman of the NAC Memorial Foundation.
Notable speakers included Lion Jane Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Syed Shibli Sadik Kofil, SM Ziaur Rahman, Dr RK Rubel, Md Hasan Murad, Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Sajal Dash, NKM Shawkat Osman, Poet Asif Choudhury, and Mufti Abdus Sobhan, among others.

The commemoration concluded with a heartfelt milad, qiyam, and special monajat, led by Maulana Nizam Uddin Ashrafi, Chairman of Madina Mission.