Munier Choudhury

Abu Naeem Mohammad Munier Choudhury (27 November 192514 December 1971) was a Bangladeshi educationist, playwright, literary critic and political dissident. He was a victim of the mass killing of Bangladeshi intellectuals in 1971.

Early life and education

Choudhury's ancestors were originated from Chatkhil, Noakhali. Then he grew up in the residence Darul Afia, named after her mother, among 14 siblings. Later, in 1958, he obtained his third master's degree in linguistics from Harvard University. He moved to Jagannath College in Dhaka in 1950.

Political activity Choudhury was associated with leftist politics and progressive cultural movements.

Mir-Manas, 1965 – literary critique of Mir Mosharraf Hossain's literature Ektala-Dotala (first ever Bengali drama telecast on television), 1965 His dead body could not be identified. On 3 November, the same year, both of them were sentenced in absentia after the court found that they were involved in the abduction and murders of 18 people – nine Dhaka University teachers including Choudhury, six journalists and three physicians – in December 1971.

Personal life

Choudhury was married to Lily Choudhury (1928–2021). Together, they had three sons, Ahmed Munier, Ashfaque Munier (Mishuk) (1959-2011) and Asif Munier (born 1967). Ashfaq was a cinematographer. Ahmed is retired and previously worked for UN missions in Africa. Asif is a human rights activist and works in the development sector. He was a founder member of Projonmo Ekattor, a human rights group.

Choudhury's notable siblings include actress Ferdousi Mazumder, National Professor Kabir Chowdhury (1923–2011), columnist Shamsher Choudhury (d. 2012), language activist Nadera Begum (d. 2013) and the first Bengali Cadet to be awarded Sword of Honour at Pakistan Military Academy, Lt. Colonel Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury (died 2013). Another sister, Rahela Banu, is married to Shawkat Hussain, a former professor of English at the University of Dhaka.

Legacy Since 1989, a Bangladeshi theater troupe named Theatre has been conferring theater personalities for their contribution to the performing art form with Munier Chowdhury Shammanona award. Bangla Academy confers Shaheed Munier Choudhury Memorial Award to book publishing houses for the merit of quality of printing and aesthetic values. Central Road, the street in Dhaka where Choudhury lived, was renamed to Shaheed Munier Chowdhury Road.