Binod Bihari Chowdhury

Binod Bihari Chowdhury (; 10 January 1911 – 10 April 2013) was a Bangladeshi social worker and anti-colonial revolutionary. An influential member in the Indian independence movement and veteran of the civil society of Bangladesh, he is mostly known for his participation in the Chittagong armoury raid, an armed uprising led by Surya Sen to uproot the British colonial rule in India in 1930.

Born in 1911, in Chittagong, Binod Bihari was the last surviving veteran of the Chittagong armoury raid and was active in many significant events in the history of Bangladesh. In 2000, he received the Independence Day Award, the highest civilian award in Bangladesh.

Early life and education Binod Bihari Chowdhury was born in the village of Uttarvurshi under the Boalkhali Upazila in Chittagong district which was then a part of the East Bengal and Assam province of British India. He was the fifth child of his parents, Kamini Kumar Chowdhury and Roma Rani Chowdhury. His father, Kamini Kumar Chowdhury was a lawyer in Chittagong. At that time Surya Sen was planning an armed uprising against the British Raj in Chittagong. The plan was to capture the two main armouries in Chittagong, destroy the telegraph and telephone systems, disrupt rail lines to cut Chittagong off from rest of British India, and blow up the "European Club", where Britons socialised.

Political career Binod Bihari was appointed as an Assistant General Secretary of the Chittagong district committee of Indian National Congress in 1939. He was also a member of the executive committee of Bengal Provincial Congress from 1940 to 1946. Binod Bihari was elected as the General Secretary of the Chittagong Branch of Indian National Congress in 1946.

After independence of Bangladesh Binod Bihari never joined politics again, but he was quite active in the democratic, cultural and social movements in Bangladesh.

Death Binod Bihari was suffering from old age complications. His health began to deteriorate in the early April 2013. He was taken to Fortis Hospital in Kolkata where he died on 10 April the same year. His death occurred only a week before the 83rd anniversary of the raid, and he was its last survivor. His body was brought back to Bangladesh a day later.

Binod Bihari was paid tribute by people from all walks of life including the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He was given state honour by the Government of Bangladesh. Binod Bihari's last rituals were performed at the Abhoy Mitra cremation center in Chittagong.

Awards Independence Day Award – 2000 Janakantha Gunijan Sammanona – 1999 Bhorer Kagoj Sammanona – 1998 Shaheed Notun Chandra Smrity Padak