Former Secretary General of BNP K M Obaidur Rahman. File Photo

DHAKA, March 21, 2025 (BSS) - The 18th death anniversary of former Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) K M Obaidur Rahman is being observed today. 

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a message on the occasion recalling Obaidur Rahman's contributions to the Liberation War, various movements and BNP. 

Born on May 5, 1940 at Laskardia village in Faridpur's Nagarkanda upazila, Obaidur Rahman was elected as the General Secretary (GS) of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) during 1962-1963. He led the anti-Aiyub student movement in 1962. Obaidur Rahman was also elected president of East Pakistan Chhatra League in 1963.

He was elected a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and later played a vital role in the non-cooperation movement of 1971 and the Liberation War. 

He joined BNP in 1978 and was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1979. Obaidur Rahman first became the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock and later, served as the Minister of Aviation and Tourism during that time.

He was the Secretary General of BNP from 1986 to 1988. He was elected as a BNP lawmaker from the Faridpur-2 constituency in the 1996 and 2001 elections. He was a member of the BNP Standing Committee until his death. K M Obaidur Rahman's daughter, Shama Obayed, is currently BNP's Organizing Secretary. 
 
KM Obaidur Rahman died on March 21, 2007, in the capital. He was buried at his village home in Nagarkanda upazila, Faridpur district. 

In a message, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, 'Former BNP Secretary General K M Obaidur Rahman was a respected national leader to all.' He added that Rahman played an important role in strengthening and organizing the party with his efficient leadership.