Death is eternal. The final destination of man is death.  There is no way to avoid death.  Every man has to taste death in the traditional way.  Some deaths don’t matter much.  But some deaths cause irreparable damage to the family and society.  Md. Abdul Gafur Chowdhury’s death is an irreparable loss.  In his death we have lost a guardian of action, integrity and justice. He was an intelligent image of a gentle person with honesty, hard work and sincerity. He has always maintained his independence through his physical beauty, manners, speech, honesty, fairness and sophisticated cultural activities. He was born on April 30, 1936 in a noble Muslim family in Sholghar Mohalla of Sunamganj town.  His father late Md. Ismail Ali Chowdhury was a religious person.  His mother late Mst. Chabura Khatun was also of Pir descent.  She knew Arabic, Urdu and Persian. She used to teach Arabic, Persian education and religious advice to the boys and girls of the village. Md. Abdul Gafur Chowdhury passed the matriculation examination in the first division from Sunamganj Government Jubilee High School in 1954. He passed the intermediate examination in the second division as an irregular candidate from Sunamganj Government College in 1972.  He joined the service in 1957 as Tehsildar.  In 1968, he joined the then Sub-Divisional Administrator’s office as a low level assistant.Then he was promoted to the position of high assistant and chief assistant in Sunamganj District Commissioner’s office and performed his duties. Later he joined the office of Sunamamganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer after being promoted to the post of office Superintendent.  In 1990, he was posted in Sunamganj District Collectorate office as an acting administrative officer.  He retired from government service in 1993 from that position with great efficiency, honesty and devotion.  After retirement, served as office Superintendent in the office of Sunamganj District Bar Association for more than 9 years. He was a pure humanitarian.  He also had a lot of social responsibility.  He was President of Sunamganj District Branch of Bangladesh Ministerial Welfare Association, Member of Sunamganj District Central Mosque Committee, Member of District Chand Dekha Committee, Member of District Corruption Prevention Committee, Vice President of Sunamganj Sadar Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee and Vice President of Sholghar Government Primary School Management Committee.  He performed his duties faithfully. He is also serving as the Executive Committee President of Jamia Hafizia Dargah Shah Asad Ali (R.H.) Madrasah and Vice President of Old Jame Masjid Committee of Sholghar.  He was a life member of Bangladesh Retired Government Employees Welfare Association Sunamganj District Branch, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Sunamganj District Unit, Sunamganj Shaheed Bir Muktijoddha Jagatjyoti Public Library. In recognition of his contribution to social and humanitarian work, he received the Shah Asad Ali Pir (Rtd.) Foundation Honorary Medal in 2014.  In 2014, Sunamganj District Corruption Prevention Committee was considered as the best District Corruption Prevention Committee of Sylhet Division and he was given a certificate of appreciation as one of the members of the committee for his commendable role in preventing corruption. In recognition of his social development activities and work for the welfare of retired government employees, Bangladesh Retired Govt.  He was awarded a medal of honour by Sunamganj district branch of Employee Welfare Association. Md. Abdul Ghafoor Chowdhury, the epitome of honesty and devotion, passed away on 22 September 2022 while undergoing treatment at Ragib Rabeya Medical College and Hospital, Sylhet.  He was the second of four brothers and one sister.  His brother late Maulana Abdur Rahim Chowdhury was a teacher of Dargapasha Abdur Rashid High School in Shantiganj Upazila.  His two brothers late Abdur Rashid Chowdhury and late Abdur Razzak Chowdhury were very religious.  Among the four brothers, three were childless. His brother late Maulana Abdur Rahim Chowdhury has one son and three daughters. The only son of late Maulana Abdur Rahim Chowdhury and his nephew MMA Fattah Chowdhury Foysol is a noble personality.  He is a former lecturer of the Sociology Department of Moinul Haque College, Sunamganj Sadar Upazila and Jaganathpur Degree College, Sunamganj District. Currently he is an expatriate in the UK.  He is a renowned journalist from Northampton, NTV Europe UK. Md. Abdul Gafur Chowdhury lived a very disciplined life.  In his condolence speech, Sanak’s former president and general secretary of Sunamganj Central Jame Masjid Nurur Rob Chowdhury said, “He was outstanding. He belonged to the Khandani family. He had no blame, no complaint. He was a very selfless person”.  Former Principal of Madan Mohan College Sylhet Lt.  Colonel professor Ataur Rahman Pir said, “Everyone knows that he was an honest and just man. He set an example of honesty in his working life. He also set an example of his honesty in all the places he worked in post-service life. His memory will remain with us because of his honest life.”
Deputy Commissioner Md. Jahangir Hossain said in his speech, “He was very honest, he was very devoted to his duties. He gave importance to official work. He tried to serve the people within the rules and regulations of the government.  He never harassed people. I am very happy to hear that one of my former colleagues has done a good job. I am seeking forgiveness for his departed soul today. May Allah Ta’ala grant him Jannatul Firdous.”
In his condolence speech Sunamganj-4 Constituency MP Advocate Pir Fazlur Rahman Misbah said, “Md. Abdul Gafur Chowdhury was a man of respect and love. He worked in administration. As an administrative officer he set a shining example of integrity. When I was Sunamganj district attorney in 1995 and joined the association as a lawyer, he retired from government service and worked in the District Lawyers Association. When he came here, he used to encourage our young lawyers. He was a very good person. As a good person, he cannot be compared. We, the people of Sunamganj, have lost a good person like him.  Today is sad. May Allah Rabbul Alamin grant Jannatul Ferdous to this good man.”

Humble tribute to his memory on his first death anniversary.  His deeds and achievements will shine.  May Allah accept your servant as a guest of Paradise.  Ameen.