Awami League Presidium member and prominent politician Begum Matia Chowdhury has passed away. She breathed her last today at noon while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital. Her death has cast a shadow of grief across the nation. Evercare Hospital’s General Manager Arif Mahmud confirmed that Matia Chowdhury had been admitted to the hospital for several days due to health complications.

Matia Chowdhury's political life and struggles were multifaceted and influential. Born on June 30, 1942, into a prominent family in Pirojpur district, she had a fighting spirit from her student days. Her father, Mohiuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, was a police officer, and her mother, Nurjahan Begum, was a homemaker. On June 18, 1964, she married renowned journalist Bazlur Rahman, marking an important chapter in her personal life.

During her studies at Eden College, she became involved in student politics and was elected president of the Bangladesh Students Union in 1965. The political unrest in then-East Pakistan led her to actively participate in the independence movement. In 1967, she joined the National Awami Party of East Pakistan and became a member of its executive committee. It was during this time that she became known as the "Agni Kanya" (Daughter of Fire), symbolizing her political wisdom and determined spirit.

During Bangladesh’s War of Liberation, Matia played a significant role in the independence struggle. She was actively involved in advocating for the cause, providing care for the wounded, and promoting Bangladesh's cause internationally. In 1971, she was appointed the Organizational Secretary of the Awami League and played a crucial role in rebuilding the party after independence. During the military regimes of Ershad and Ziaur Rahman, she was arrested multiple times, yet she continued to lead movements with unwavering determination.

Matia Chowdhury served as Bangladesh's Agriculture Minister three times—in 1996, 2009, and 2013. Her agricultural policies led to substantial development in the sector, earning her recognition as a competent and successful minister. She tirelessly worked to protect farmers' interests, promote modern agricultural technologies, and achieve self-sufficiency in food production. She always stood by the farmers and worked relentlessly for their betterment.

In January 2023, she was appointed the Deputy Leader of the National Parliament, where she worked to ensure equal rights for minority communities, including advocating for equal property rights for women under Hindu law and other minority rights. 

In 2024, amid political turmoil and the start of a non-cooperation movement, President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved the National Parliament, resulting in Matia Chowdhury losing her seat as a Member of Parliament. Nevertheless, her political legacy and resilient spirit will forever enshrine her as an immortal leader in the country's history.

Matia Chowdhury's political life extended beyond the realm of politics. She was a humanitarian leader who always stood by the common people. Her death has left a significant void in the political landscape of Bangladesh, one that will not be easily filled.