VIRGINIA — A group of Bangladeshi community leaders and journalists recently visited veteran journalist and 1971 Liberation War freedom fighter Harun Chowdhury at his Virginia home, offering support and checking on his health.
The delegation included Shibbir Ahmed, ZI Russell, Sheikh Selim, Sadek M. Khan and Jewel Barua. They spent time with the 77-year-old former wartime leader, who is now largely confined to his home because of age-related health problems.
According to family members, Chowdhury is managing several chronic conditions, including diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. His health problems have significantly reduced his mobility, and he requires assistance with many everyday activities.
The visit provided an opportunity for the group to reminisce about their years of friendship and professional association with Chowdhury. Conversations centered on shared memories, journalism and his long involvement in the Bangladeshi community in the United States.
Chowdhury’s connection to Bangladesh’s Liberation War is a defining part of his life story. During the 1971 war, he trained at Melaghar in Agartala, India, and served with Sector 2’s K Force under Major General Khaled Mosharraf and Major Haider. He later commanded operations in the Srinagar thana area.
After independence, Chowdhury established a career in journalism and literature. He served for many years as the Washington, D.C., representative of Weekly Thikana and wrote extensively about the Liberation War and the media.
Among his published works are Amar Muktijuddho Amar Ahankar 1971, a memoir of his wartime experience, and Shangbadiker Shongbad, a chronicle of journalism. Both were published by Anannya Prokashoni.
The visitors said Chowdhury’s decades of service to Bangladesh, journalism and the expatriate community remain an important part of his legacy. They also encouraged members of the Bangladeshi-American community and his former colleagues to remember him and his family in their thoughts and prayers as he faces continuing health challenges.
