Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher

Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher (Bengali: সৈয়দ আবদুল্লাহ মোহাম্মদ তাহের; born 1958) is a Bangladeshi politician and former Member of Parliament for Comilla-12 constituency in seventh parliamentary elections from 2001-2006 in Bangladesh.^[1] He is a Central Working Committee member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami,^[2] and its International Affairs secretary.^[3]

Early and student life

Taher was born in a Syed family in Chauddagram Upazila, Comilla. His father, Moulana Syed Mozherul Haque Haidory, was an Islamic religious preacher, orator and scholar. He was awarded with the title of ‘Haidory’ by the government of Bengal, for his oratory skills. His mother, Late Akseer-e-Jahan Chowdhurani, hailed from the “Kathghor” Muslim Jomidar family of Chittagong. Taher is one of six brothers and three sisters.

Taher was recipient of the government funded talent pool scholarship both in class-V and class-VIII. He stood third in the SSC exam from the then greater Comilla board, and completed his HSC from Chittagong Govt. College in 1975. Later he passed his MBBS degree from Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Involvement in student politics

He got involved in student politics during his college days. He became a "Member" of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir within two years of joining the organisation. He discharged his duties as President of Dhaka College unit and then as President of Dhaka City Branch.

During his study at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Taher was elected as the General Secretary of Dhaka Medical College Student's Union (DhaMeCSU). He was also president of Comilla Association for Medical Students.

Later, he was selected as Secretary General and finally led the organisation as its Central President for two consecutive terms during 1985-86 and 1986-87.^[4]

He was unable to pursue his profession as medical practitioner due to his full-time involvement with social and political work.

Involvement in international forums

Dr. Taher was elected Director for Asia at International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations (IIFSO) from 1988-1992. Later he was elected as secretary general of IIFSO-1992-1995. Beside IIFSO secretary general, he was the Director for WAMY (World Assembly of Muslim Youth), South Asia during the same period.

Member of Parliament

He was elected as a Member of Parliament in Bangladesh from 2001-2006^[1][5][6] and was part of two parliamentary bodies, the Public accounts committee and the Public undertaking committee.

Imprisonment

Taher was imprisoned several times due to his political activities, most recently in 2013, when he was arrested on 2 January 2013,^[7] by RAB personnel, in connection with various allegations, including arson attacks, attacks on police and conspiracy against the government. He was later released on bail.

He was also arrested by joint forces on allegations of extortion, looting and grabbing during the tenure of the military backed caretaker government on 7 March 2007. He was released on ad-interim bail on 7 August 2008.^[8] His supporters have alleged that the erstwhile government had arrested in drive to clamp down on political activists on trumped up charges.

Family life

He is married to Professor Dr. Habiba Akhter Chowdhury, MBBS, M-Phil from Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, who is serving as the Head of the Department of Radiology & Imaging in Dhaka National Medical College & Hospital. She comes from an influential family from Fulsuti, Faridpur. The couple have three daughters and one son.His eldest daughter is also a doctor.She graduated from Mymensingh Medical College in January 2015

References