Cumilla paid solemn tributes to the late educationist, freedom fighter, and former Member of Parliament, Principal Abul Kalam Majumdar, on his 27th death anniversary on Friday.
Unlike previous years, the anniversary was observed without any major fanfare. A milad mahfil, Quran recitation, and prayers were held at his gravesite, located beside the Bagmara Women's College orphanage in Lalmai upazila. Family members, along with various social and political organizations, visited the grave, offering flowers and prayers in remembrance of the late leader.
Principal Majumdar, a former General Secretary of the Comilla District Awami League, was remembered not just as a party leader but as a true "man of the people." His enduring legacy lies in the numerous educational institutions he founded, which have illuminated the once-neglected southern part of the district.
His contributions include establishing the Lalmai Government Degree College, Bagmara Women's College and Girls' School, Meherkul Daulatpur High School, Daulatpur Government Primary School, and several madrasas.
Beyond education, he was a renowned social reformer and a passionate environmentalist, often called the "Tree Lover." He personally planted trees across the Lalmai College campus, along the road from Lalmai Bazaar to the college, and around his own home, making afforestation a core part of his mission.
"He worked tirelessly to establish the rights of the common people of Comilla. His role in the politics and educational development of South Comilla was immense," said a local admirer. "For his work, Principal Majumdar will live forever in the hearts of the people of Comilla."
A brilliant student, Majumdar graduated from the Department of Economics at the University of Dhaka. He then dedicated his life to teaching and social development before fully immersing himself in politics, devoting his life to public welfare until his last breath.
As the great man himself once said, "The crop fields will tell you where Comilla begins and where it ends."
