Noman was respected by all political parties, says chief advisor

He describes the former minister as a talented leader in Bangladeshi politics

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has expressed grief over the death of Abdullah Al Noman, vice chairman of the central BNP, and a former minister.

In a condolence message on Tuesday, he highlighted Noman as a talented leader in Bangladeshi politics.

The chief advisor said, “This brave freedom fighter participated in the Liberation War in 1971. He remained active in politics from the early 1960s until his last breath.

"While active in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, he was elected MP for Chattogram-9 constituency three times.

“He served as the fisheries and food minister. Outside the political spectrum, he was respected by people of all parties in Chattogram.”

Yunus expressed his condolences to Noman’s family and prayed for his soul’s eternal peace.

The veteran politician fell ill at his Dhanmondi residence around 6am on Tuesday and was later declared dead by doctors at Square Hospital.

The 80-year-old veteran politician had been suffering from old age complications for a long time. He leaves behind a wife, a son, and a daughter.

BNP leaders and activists rushed to his Dhanmondi residence on the news of his death.

Noman was born in Gahira village in Chattogram’s Raozan in 1945 and was once involved in leftist politics.

At the start of the ‘60s he took part in the movement opposing the Hamidur Rahman Education Commission and became a member of the Students Union.

In the Menonist Chhatra Union, he also served as the general secretary of the Chittagong Metropolitan City, president of Greater Chittagong, and central organising secretary.

After his student days, Noman followed Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani into labour politics. He became vice president of the East Bengal Workers Federation. He was also secretly part of the Bhashani-allied NAP. In 1970, he became the organising secretary of NAP.

He was an active freedom fighter during the 1971. He continued NAP politics after Bangladesh gained its independence before joining the BNP in 1981.

Noman was elected member of parliament from the Chattogram-9 (Kotwali) seat with the paddy sheaf symbol in 1991 and 2001. He served as minister to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Ministry of Forest and Environment under Khaleda Zia’s administration.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul have issued separate condolence messages following Noman’s death.