Dewan Taimur Raja Chowdhury

Dewan Taimur Raja Chowdhury (Bengali: দেওয়ান তৈমুর রাজা চৌধুরী; 5 November 1917 – 14 December 1997) was a Bangladeshi politician, landowner and poet. He was a former member of parliament from Sylhet-7 as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician.

Dewan Taimur Raja Chowdhury
দেওয়ান তৈমুর রাজা চৌধুরী
Member of Parliament
In office 18 February 1979 – 12 February 1982
President	Ziaur Rahman
Prime Minister	Shah Azizur Rahman
Preceded by	Nurul Islam Khan
Constituency	Sylhet-7
Member of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office 1947–1954
Preceded by	Position established
Member of the Assam Legislative Assembly
In office 1946–1947
Preceded by	Dewan Eklimur Raja Chowdhury
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Constituency	Sylhet Sadar-W
Personal details
Born	5 November 1917 Rampasha, Assam, British India
Died	14 December 1997(1997-12-14) (aged 80) Sylhet, Bangladesh
Political party	Bangladesh Nationalist Party
Spouse	Shaila Ahsanullah
Relatives	Hason Raja (grandfather) Begum Ahsanullah (stepmother-in-law)
Alma mater	Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah Murari Chand College

Early life

Chowdhury was born on 5 November 1917 to a Bengali Muslim family in Rampasha, Bishwanath, Sylhet District, Assam Province, British India (now Sylhet Division, Bangladesh).^[1] His father was Khan Bahadur Dewan Eklimur Raja Chowdhury and his mother was Meherjan Banu. His paternal grandfather was the renowned Bengali mystic poet and songwriter Hason Raja.^[1]

Chowdhury began his education in Rajaganj Primary School before enrolling at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasah where he did Islamic studies and also studied Bengali, Arabic, Persian and Urdu. He then moved on to study at Rasamay Memorial High School and Sylhet Government High School. He graduated from Murari Chand College. As a student he was the secretary of Assam Provincial Muslim Students Federation.^[1]

Career

Chowdhury's career began with taking care of his father's various properties such as the Alijan Coal Mine in Assam, Rupamukhi and Sonamukhi in Tripura, and Moulvibazar Tea Garden. From 1943 to 1946, Chowdhury was the honorary magistrate of Sylhet District. He went on to serve as vice chairman and then chairman of Sylhet Local Board. In 1946, he was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly. He was involved in the 1947 Sylhet referendum that saw Sylhet rejoined with East Bengal.^[1]

Chowdhury joined the East Pakistan Muslim League and served as the president of Sylhet District Muslim League. In 1965, he was elected to East Pakistan Provincial Assembly. Chowdhury was made the president of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Sylhet unit in 1979.^[1] Chowdhury was elected to parliament from Sylhet-7 as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate in 1979.^[2] He was a state minister in the cabinet of President Ziaur Rahman.^[1] He wrote mystical poems and songs like his grandfather. He founded the Dewan Taimur Raja Trust with support from Islami Bank.^[1]

Personal life

Chowdhury's younger brother, Saifur Raja, was married to Shaila Ahsanullah of the Dhaka Nawab Family. She was a daughter of Nawabzada Khwaja Ahsanullah, the youngest son of Nawab Bahadur Sir Salimullah.

Death

Chowdhury died on 14 December 1997.^[1]