A. K. A. Firoze Noon
A. K. A. Firoze Noon (4 January 1946 – 23 December 2006)[2] was a Bangladeshi politician who was one of the founding members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[3] He was the founder principal of BNP's political training center.[4] Former political and economic research secretary of BNP, he served as the political adviser of the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia during 1991–1996.[5] He was also the VP of East Pakistan Student League (1966-1967).
A. K. A. Firoze Noon | |
|---|---|
এ কে এ ফিরোজ নুন | |
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 January 1946 Shomspur, Sreenagar, Bengal Presidency, British India |
| Died | 23 December 2006 (aged 60) Singapore |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Political party | Bangladesh Nationalist Party |
| Spouse(s) | Momena Begum |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Brajalal College University of Dhaka |
| Occupation | Politician, journalist, writer [1] |
Early life
Noon was born in Samspur, Sreenagar in the then Bengal Presidency on 4 January 1946. His father Mozammel Hossain, popularly known as Suba Miah was for sometimes President of the Kolapara Union of Bikrampur. His mother Sufula Begum (Chappa) was the granddaughter of Khan Bahadur Khabirullah.
Noon studied in Shomspur School and St. Joseph High School, Khulna. He completed his matriculation in 1963 from Model High School in Khulna. He graduated from B L College of Khulna in arts in 1967.
Political career
Student politics
Around this time in the college the entire East Pakistan was seized by a terrible commotion over the highly controversial Hamoodur Rahman Education Commission Report. The Student Community as a whole rose in protest and demanded to scrap of the report which would have gone against the interest of the students if implemented. Mr. Noon was the Convenor of the Committee of the college students and was eventually involved in its leadership. This was the time he joined the Students’ League (Chatro League). Being in the front ranking leader of the students he earned the wrath of the government of East Pakistan and was put behind the bars for some time in 1963.[6]
Noon participated in the movements of the students of East Pakistan including the 6-point program of Awami League and 11-point program of the students – the main opposition political party students movement respectively at that time.
East Pakistan Chatro (Student) League
Noon rose to the position of vice-president of the erstwhile East Pakistan Student League. The mass uprising in 1969 was about to precipitate – at least the distant signal was beckoning. The student community in Khulna, like in other places of the province, started the process of effacing the names of the parochial Pakistani leaders after whom the public structures, roads, and thoroughfares had been known. In the first place, the Jinnah Park in Khulna was renamed Shahid Hadis Park after a martyr in the political movements. Noon proposed the change in public and the renaming was ceremonially performed. It was again he and Prof. Rashid who jointly laid the first brick to build a Shahid Minar in Khulna town.
In 1968, Noon obtained post-graduation degree in Bangla and took admission in LLB class. The year ahead in 1969 kept him engaged full-time with the political movement and 6-point/11-point programs. His responsibility as the Vice-President of the Students League and a Central Leader was to mobilize the support of the students as well as of the general members of the public.
Formation of BNP
The years between 1970 and 1976 kept Noon busy with his vocational chores mostly and in the backyard he allowed his political thinking and attachment take to a newer trend. In 1977 he joined hands with General Ziaur Rahman in his bid to float a new political party – Bangladesh Nationalist Party. After the formation of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, President Ziaul Rahman took initiative for formation of political institutes and sponsored workshops for the youth to get active political lessons on Bangladeshi nationalism. Noon assumed the role of the Principal, Political Training Centre/Institute and in the process about 7,000 political activists including the member of parliament and ministers were imparted training.
Noon got himself involved in a number of areas related to the party progression. As the founder-member of BNP in Zia's time, he was Secretary of Political & Economic Research Centre. He traveled many countries (i.e. China, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Yugoslavia etc.) with President Ziaur Rahman as the member of high-level delegation team and also as a distinguished member, Envoy's Pool of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh).
In the 1991, national election Noon acted as the Chief Election Coordinator of BNP and his personal contribution to BNP Election Manifests of 1991 was indeed immensely rewarding.
Experiences in various capacity
Noon was associated with the following cabinets, organizations, associations and other committees in different capacities
- Distinguished Member, Envoy's Pool of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh) (1978-1980)
- Principal, BNP Political Training Center for Cabinet Ministers, MPs and other political activists (1977-1980)
- Political and Economic Research Secretary of BNP
- Political Adviser of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia (1991-1996)
- Director in the Board of Directors, Shilpa Bank (1991-1996)
- Chairman, Selection committee for Sick Industries under the Ministry of Industry (Bangladesh) (1991-1996)
- Member, Reform Committee for Education and Prevention of Corruption of the Ministry of Education (Bangladesh) (1991-1996)
- Managing Director, Cooperative Jute Mills Ltd (1991-1996)
- Director, Cooperative Bank and Cooperative Jute Society (1991-1996)
- Member, Film Censor Board, Film Jury Board for 9 years from 1978
- Member, Steering Committee, Bangladesh Open University (1991-1996)
- Senate Member, Bangladesh National University (1991–1996)
- Director in the Board of Directors, Shilpakala Academy (National Academy of Fine and Performing Arts)
- Founder Member, Viqarunnesa Noon School & College Governing Committee
- Convenor, Finance Committee Viqarunnesa Noon School & College
- Honorary Treasure, Viqarunnesa Noon School & College
- Founder Convenor, Viqarunnesa School and College Dhanmondi Branch in 1993
- Founder, Shomspur Business Management College
- Chairman, Shomspur High School
- Chairman, Noon Interactive
- General Manager, Dainik Desh Newspaper
- President, Bangladesh Roller Skating Federation
- President, Bangladesh Boxing Federation
- Adviser, Olympic Industries Limited
- Adviser, Bombay Sweets & Co. Ltd
- Adviser, eSophers Ltd
Publications
Noon was the author of five books on the life and works of President Ziaur Rahman. Publications include:[7][8]
- Amar Rajniteer Ruprekha (1986)[9]
- Zia Keno Jonopriyoo (1991)
- Chotoder Jonno Ziaur Rahman (1991)
- Chotoder Komol Janatar Zia (2002)
- Shahid Zia er Shrishto Boktrita (2002)
Involvement in education sector
Noon has been indeed a very respected name in the education sector as well for his being a highly committed patron of education himself. His membership of the Steering Committee, Bangladesh Open University (1991-1996) besides that of the Bangladesh National University as a Senate Member (1991–96), Founder Member, Viqarunnesa Noon School & College Governing Committee, Convenor, Finance Committee and Honorary Treasure of Viqarunnesa Noon School & College, Founder, Shomspur Business Management College, Chairman, Shomspur High School, Founder Convenor of Viqarunnesa School and College Dhanmondi Branch in 1993 etc., can be cited as glittering testimony of his love for educational pursuits.
On the top of all these he has been consistent developer himself and helped others develop many educational institutions at Bikrampur.
Involvement in journalism and cultural sector
Noon was associated with The Daily Ittefaq as a reporter in 1963-1964 and with Dainik Desh as its general manager from 1982 to 1990. Besides, he has been a regular contributor to the post-editorial column of many dailies of Bangladesh.
Among his other accomplishments, Noon was a television personality being a noted Compare and Conductor of talk show on Bangladesh Television (BTV). Besides, he presided over the National Debating Competition on BTV. He was a regular guest speaker of Tritio Matra on Channel i and also regular on NTV, ATN Bangla, RTV etc. as guest speaker.[10][11]
Noon received Atish Diponkar Gold Medal Award for the merit of performance and contribution in the socio-cultural arena.
References
- Firoze Noon as Author
- "Firoz Noon passes away". The Daily Star. 2006-12-24. Archived from the original on 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
- "Firoze Noon, one of the founding members of BNP". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
- Firoze Noon, Founder Principle of BNP's political training center
- "Political and Research Secretary of BNP". The Daily Star.
- Siddiqui, Nure Alam. শেখ হাসিনার কেবিনেটের প্রতাপশালী মন্ত্রী বঙ্গবন্ধুর ফাঁসি চেয়েছিলেন [Powerful cabinet minister wanted to hang Bangabandhu Sheikh Hasina]. Bangladesh Pratidin. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014.
[Firoze Noon's involvement in 6-point program mentioned]
- Firoze Noon as Author
- Books written by Firoze Noon Archived 24 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- "Books of Firoze Noon". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
- "Firoze Noon as media personality". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
- "Program Records". Tritiyo Matra. Archived from the original on 11 December 2016.
Episode 342; June 22, 2004; Current Political Debate; Mr. A K A Firoze Noon and Mr. Noor Alam Ziku