Dhaka, June 25 (V7N) – The 19th death anniversary of Colonel (Retd.) Akbar Hossain, Bir Protik, a valiant freedom fighter and a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is being observed today. He passed away on June 25, 2006, while serving as the Minister of Shipping. To mark the occasion, various commemorative events have been organized across the country. His family has arranged a Qur’an recitation and Doa Mahfil at his residence in House No. 24, Road 4/A, Sector 5, Uttara, Dhaka. A memorial discussion and community feast are being held at Saleha Girls’ High School in Shongraish, Cumilla. Cumilla District BNP is organizing a special Doa Mahfil at Kandirpar Jame Mosque. BNP leaders and activists from Cumilla and Laksam are paying tribute by placing floral wreaths at his grave in Chitoshi, Monohorganj.

Colonel Akbar Hossain was born on January 18, 1941, and was awarded the title Bir Protik for his bravery during the 1971 Liberation War. Following his retirement from the Bangladesh Army, he joined politics and played a foundational role in the formation of the United Peoples Party (UPP) in January 1974, later merging with the Nationalist Front in 1977. He joined the BNP soon after and held important positions including Special Secretary, Joint Secretary General, Vice Chairman, and Convener of Cumilla District BNP. He was elected to Parliament five times and served as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Minister of Environment and Forest, and Minister of Shipping. In 1978, he was part of the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, where Bangladesh was elected to the UN Security Council in a competitive race against Japan. He served on national committees addressing major issues such as the Tin Bigha Corridor, Farakka water-sharing agreement, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict.

In addition to his political achievements, Akbar Hossain was a noted orator and writer who regularly contributed articles, political commentaries, and interviews to national newspapers. He directed two films based on the life of filmmaker Zahir Raihan—Abujh Mon and Sonar Kajol. A trained dancer, he founded the Bangladesh Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts. His notable publications include “Bhikkhuk Konodin Boro Lok Hoy Na, Gorib Boro Lok Hoy”, “Shaheed Zia o Ami”, and “Colonel Akbar Hossain Bir Protik: Muktijuddhe, Sangsade, Sangbadpatre”, edited by Nazrul Islam Misha. He also served as Chief Advisor to the Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad. As Environment Minister, he represented Bangladesh in several international conferences, including the Coastal Zone Conference in the Netherlands (1993), the International Waste Management Conference in Geneva (1995), and the Asia-Pacific Environment Development Conference in Bangkok (1995), where he was appointed Vice Chairman. Colonel Akbar Hossain is remembered today as a patriot, statesman, cultural patron, and one of the architects of modern Bangladeshi politics.

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