The Sahidul Alam Choudhury Memorial Award 2021 instituted by the Minority Welfare Society (MWS) was presented to Prof. Baharul Islam of the Indian Institute of Management Kashipur at the annual general meeting of the organisation held on 24th February in Guwahati.
The award is given in memory of Sahidul Alam Choudhury, the former Assam minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator. Choudhury was elected as MLA five times from Algapur Constituency of Hailakandi District and served twice as Cabinet Minister in the Government of Assam.
Minority Welfare Society organizes various welfare and motivational programs for the development of the community. It covers the population residing in and around Guwahati who is associated with the Barak Valley region of Assam.
Dr KM Baharul Islam is a Professor and Chairperson of the Centre for Public Policy and Government at IIM Kashipur, Uttarakhand. He was also the Dean at the same institute during 2019- 2021. His credentials also includes a fellowship at The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 2020.
Abdus Sattar Chaudhary, President and Abdul Karim Chaudhary, General Secretary of MWS presented the award to Prof. Baharul Islam. The award consisted of cash of Rs. 25,000 and a memento.
He returned the entire cash amount to MWS in order to facilitate the developmental work done by the organization.
He dedicated the award to his father Late Fakhrul Islam, who was a principal of Lala Rural College, Hailakandi Assam. He also served as a Deputy Minister in the Government.
In his address, he said, “My father taught me about plain living and high thinking because of which I have been able to reach a respectable position in life where I am placed today”
Dr Islam also told that the PFI foundation has been founded by him in the loving memory of his late father. The foundation is now accredited by the United Nations.
MWS releases a magazine named “Barak” every year, the same magazine was also released on the occasion. The eighth edition of “Barak” consisted of well-researched articles including rare photographs and documents. The magazine was edited and designed by Jiya-ud-Din Choudhary and Abul Hussain Choudhary.
An annual report of the organization was also presented at the event. The report highlighted the amount that was channelized for zakat and relief. The total amount incurred for the cause was Rs.1.87 lakh to the underprivileged and needy in the society, Rs. 63,000 was given to poor patients for their medical treatment. To facilitate the program “Assam Arogya Nidhi” an amount of Rs. 50,000 was donated for impairing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, the organization lends loans of over Rs. 3 lakh to 190 small entrepreneurs under the “Qoumrul Hoque Memorial Endowment” program which is supported by ERS Foundation.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, the award was given to meritorious students of the program, various competitions held. The organization will also take up the publication of the updated directory of the members associated. They also welcomed help and cooperation from all the dignitaries present at the event.
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Ghazala Ahmad is the Delhi Correspondent for The Cognate.
