Bangladeshi Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury, A “Live Defender”

by Hasanuzzaman Talukdar Shemul

Operations Manager & South Asian Representative

Modern Ghana

"If you want to be a self reliant person, a responsible member of your family and your country as well as a respected personality of your society, you have only one alternative that is you must have utilitarian education for economic emancipation." It is the massage for the students from Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury, the current vice chancellor of the World University of Bangladesh (WUB).

Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury, an alternative name of "Live defender" served in several universities including the University of Dhaka as a teacher for 37 years. He has to his credit a vast experience of working as academic administrator and consultant of high repute. He has been involved in research and publication at home and abroad He was editors of several leading journals.

Professor Choudhury was born in a successful family in Comilla district of Bangladesh. He passed his education life in Comilla, Dhaka, Manchester and London. He got his higher education in Master of Commerce from Dhaka University, Master of Business Administration from Manchester Business School, and PhD from London. He also served in Bayero University, Nigeria as Head of Department, Academic Dean and Syndicate Member as well as a teacher in Ahmado Bello University of Nigeria and AIUMT. He was the Proctor of Dhaka University, Senate Member of Dhaka University for about twelve years, Member of Finance Committee, Founder Director of Evening MBA Program of Management Department of the Dhaka University., Founder Chairman of Department of MIS, Chairman of National Management Association, Organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Commerce Education Society, and Founder Chairman of a Government Bank of Bangladesh. He is also an excellent writer and columnist. Dr. Choudhury was a freedom fighter too. He was the Deputy Commander (and was commander for few months) of the eastern command of the Mujib Bahini (Bangladesh Liberation Force) in the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.

As said earlier, Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury has been serving as Vice- Chancellor in the World University of Bangladesh (WUB). It is one of the most popular and leading universities for utilitarian education in Bangladesh. Now, World University of Bangladesh is among top five universities of the country and it has been possible due to Mr. Choudhury’s excellent leadership, relentless efforts and guidelines.

Earlier Career of the ‘Live Defender’ Abdul Mannan Choudhury:
Dr. Choudhury has a strong background. He is not only a professor or freedom fighter but a strong part of the history of Bangladesh. He was directly involved in 1962 education movement and 1963 Comilla University establishment movement.

Following Suhrawardy's death in 1963, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman came as the head of the Awami League, which became one of the largest political parties in Pakistan. In 1966, Mujib proclaimed a 6-point Program titled "Our Charter of Survival" at a national conference of opposition political parties at Lahore, in which he demanded self-government and considerable political, economic and defence autonomy for East Pakistan in a federated Pakistan implying a weak central government.

Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury was a strong supporter of these six points´ movements. On the 7th June 1966, the day of hartal, young Choudhury while picketing in front of the juncture of old high court and the Curzon Hall of Dhaka University was shot point blank but he somehow survived He was also involved in eleven point movements in 1969. In order to realize the eleven point demands and to protest against the repressive measures upon the student-masses by the Police and EPR and against the violation of the sanctity of the University, the Central Student Action Committee, from a meeting held at Dhaka University Battala on 17th January 1969 called for a complete strike in all the educational institutions of East Pakistan as from 20th January, 1969. To face the situation, the government imposed Section 144 prohibiting the assembly of more than four persons in any public place. Disregarding the imposition of this section 144, the students of the Dhaka University and different colleges assembled at the varsity campus and after a brief meeting nearly 10,000 students brought out a procession at about 12 noon by violating Section 144. When the procession reached near the then Post Graduate Medical College (near Chand Khan's bridge), the police charged upon the procession. After clashes for nearly an hour, some students including Asad as well as Abdul Mannan Choudhury tried to lead the procession towards the centre of the town, i.e. Gulistan Cinema Hall. At that time and situation, one police officer killed Asad by firing from his pistol from a very short distance. As a result, Asad died. Young Choudhury, at that time a student activist, was in a very close distance of Shaheed Asad but luckily escaped from being shot.

Dr. Choudhury was also a valiant freedom fighter and earlier organizer. According to a book by Tikka Khan and as per statement of journal and newspaper of that time, Dr. Choudhury was a trainer of 1971 liberation war. He composed and read out the resolution for Independence on 3rd March 1971, on behalf of the Dhaka University teachers. Tikka Khan wrote in his book, "Mr. Choudhury, the only university teacher, who was trained in Dehradun in guerrilla warfare joined liberation war of Bangladesh under Mujib Bahini".

Mujib Bahini or Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF) was part of Bangladesh Mukti Bahini, a guerrilla force fighting against Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. It was a special force created by the Bangabandhu supporters and composed of 60,000 young warriors. It was organized with the active assistance of Major General Oban of the Indian Army. Leaders of former Student League, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni, Serajul Alam Khan, Abdur Razzak and Tofael Ahmed were the organizers of this special force. Mr. Choudhury was the Deputy Commander (and was Commander for few months) of eastern command of Mujib Bahini in the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh.

From 1992, Mr. Choudhury was the Member-Secretary of the Coordination Committee for the Trial of the Killers and Collaborators of 1971, and closely worked with Shaheed Janoni Jahanara Imam.

After serving Dhaka University and some other universities of the world for 37 years, Professor Choudhury has been serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the World University of Bangladesh (WUB).

In personal life, Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury is very satisfied individual. He is happily married to Mrs. Morsheda Choudhury who has been holding the position of Treasurer at WUB, since 27 July, 2003.They are blessed with three sons-one of whom one is an Assistant Professor in Dhaka University; the second one is a physician in one the leading hospitals in Singapore; and the last son is a 4^th year student in Dhaka University. However, as a freedom fighter he had dream of serving the nation at a better position.

Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Choudhury’s life at a glance:

1. Had a first class academic career even though he was involved in Education movements of 1962, Comilla University Establishment Movement of 1963, Six point Movement of 1966 (he was almost annihilated by point blank police fire while he was picketing on 7^th June hartal in front of the old high court and Curzon hall juncture).

2. Elected member of the F. H. Hall Students Union.

3. Served as Secretary of the Commerce Association of Dhaka University.

4. Literary Secretary, General Secretary and President of the Shilpo-O- Sahitya Sangha consecutively.

5. Participated as an activist in the Eleven points Program of the Students Action Committee, 1969;

6 .Raised and read out the Resolution for Independence instead of regional autonomy on 3 March, 1971 on behalf of Dhaka university teachers.

7. Was one of the 128 signatories to press demand for stopping genocide in Bangladesh, 1971.
8. Editor of "Weekly Bangladesh", 1971.

9. Trainer of liberation war, 1971.

10. Was Deputy Commander and Commander for short period of Mujub Bahini, Eastern Command (Bangladesh Liberation Front,) 1971;Coordinator on behalf of Mujib Bahini in the Joint Command.

11. Participated in restoration of Civil Administration at Comilla on 9th December 1971;
12. Lecturer (Before the start of liberation war) to Professor, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh (37 years);

13. Academic Dean and Head of Department of a faculty and a department of Bayero University Kano, Nigeria.

14. Member-Secretary, Co-ordination Committee for the Trial of the Killers and collaborators of 1971.

15. Vice- Chancellor, World University of Bangladesh (WUB) at present.

16. Advisor of the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Jatiyo Muktijodda Council (at present)

Administrative Experience:

· Chairman, International Center for Collaborative Studies

· Director, MBA (Regular), HRM Program, University of Dhaka

· Director, Evening MBA Program, University of Dhaka

· Member, Evening MBA Program, University of Dhaka

· Chairman, Centre for Development and Institutional Studies, University of Dhaka.

· Proctor, University of Dhaka, 1987-89.

· Provost, Sir Salimullah Hall, University of Dhaka. 1989-1991.

· Chairperson, Department of Management, University of Dhaka. 1992-1995.

· Senate Member, University of Dhaka. 1992--2002

· Chairman, National Institute of Business Administration & Information Science

· Editor, Journal of Business Studies, Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka. 1990­1992.

· Deputy Dean (Academic Dean) in Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. 1983-1984.

· Senate Member twice in Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. 1982-1984.

· Member, Editorial Board, Social Science Research Paper, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria. 1983.

· President, National Management Association, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 1996­.

· President, Dhaka University Management Alumni Association. 1996-­

· Member, Finance Committee, University of Dhaka. 1998-1999.

· Member, National Board of Drugs and Narcotics, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Bangladesh. 1999.

· Member, Prison Reforms Committee, Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. 1998.

· Chairman, Bangladesh Commerce Bank Ltd. 1998

· Chairman, Several Educational Institutions and Non-Profit Making Organizations.

· Member, Library Committee, Manchester Business School. 1974-1975.

· General Secretary, Bangladesh Society, Manchester. 1974-1975.

See Also:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Mannan_Choudhury
2. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/101761
3. http://www.modernghana.com/news/215164/1/bangladeshi-professor-dr-abdul-mannan-choudhury-a-.html

About Author Hasanuzzaman Talukdar Shemul:
Hasanuzzaman Talukdar Shemul was born in 1989 in a prosperous family in Gopalganj, Bangladesh.
He completed his school graduation (HSC) from Dhaka Bigyan College then he joined Bangladesh Navy and was in service for two years at frigate BNS Osman, and at two BN Establishments namely BNS Shaheed Moazzem and BNS Titumir from 2006 to 2007. At present, he is continuing his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in World University of Bangladesh.
He is a good science fiction writer and also a wikiholic. He was an editor of a monthly youth magazine the monthly "Protishurity" during his school life in Shaheen Academy, Feni.
He is a new and very young columnist of the American Chronicle, Rant Burg, USA Today, Modern Ghana and etc.
Hasanuzzaman Talukder Shimul has a keen interest in South Asian affairs of different regional and development issues. He is very much enthusiastic to work on the issues of climate change, global warming and preventing regional environmental degradation.