Matia Chowdhury, a presidium member of the Awami League and former minister, has passed away at the age of 82.
The politician breathed her last on Wednesday afternoon while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
The hospital authorities said Matia Chowdhury was brought to the emergency department of Evercare Hospital in the morning after suffering cardiac arrest.
The 82-year-old had previously received treatment at Evercare Hospital for some time due to health issues.
Her family said she had been suffering from various age-related illnesses for a long period.
Her namaz-e-janaza will be held on Thursday in Gulshan, according to the family.
The family also wishes to bury her at the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard in Mirpur.
Born on June 30, 1942, in Nazirpur upazila of Pirojpur, Matia Chowdhury graduated from the University of Dhaka.
Matia Chowdhury, who initially engaged in politics through the Bangladesh Students Union, later became actively involved with the Awami League.
In 1965, Matia Chowdhury was elected president of the Bangladesh Students Union. She actively participated in the movement against Pakistan's ruler Ayub Khan and was imprisoned four times during that period.
After Bangladesh's independence in 1971, Matia joined the Awami League and played a significant role in various movements. She was also imprisoned during the military government's rule in Bangladesh.
Although born in Pirojpur, Matia Chowdhury was elected as a member of parliament multiple times from Sherpur-2.
She was last elected from this seat in the 12th general election and served as deputy leader of parliament.
The veteran politician also held the position of agriculture minister during the Awami League governments of 1996, 2009, and 2014.
