After serving 26 years behind bars in connection with multiple charges including murder, abduction, arms possession, and extortion, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, commonly known as “Shibir Nasir”, has tied the knot at the age of 60.
Nasir was released from Chattogram Central Jail on August 11 last year after securing bail in the final of 36 cases filed against him. Of those, he was acquitted in 31 cases, while two convictions were considered served during his long imprisonment. Three cases, including murder charges from Fatikchhari, are still under trial.
Last Thursday, Nasir married Kulsum Begum, a resident of Sipatli village in Hathazari. The wedding reportedly included a dowry-free agreement with a dower (denmohor) set at Tk 15 lakh. The news of the wedding generated significant buzz on social media.
Nasir’s elder sister, Lili Akter, said that her brother now wishes to live a peaceful, family-oriented life. “He wants to leave his past behind and start afresh through marriage,” she said.
Nasir was arrested on April 9, 1998, and became widely known as “Shibir Nasir” due to alleged involvement with the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir. However, the current president of Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Chattogram (North) unit, Tanzir Hossain, denied any official ties between Nasir and the organisation. “People may have associated his name with Shibir, but he was never formally involved,” he claimed.
Legal records show that Nasir was sentenced to 10 years in an arms case in 2008 and five years in 2017 for an attack on police at the Chattogram College dormitory. In 2015, he was acquitted in the high-profile 1994 murder case of student leader Zamir Uddin. He was also cleared of charges in the murder cases of Nazirhat College Principal Gopal Krishna Muhuri and three others in Hathazari.
Nasir’s lawyer, Monzur Ahmed Ansari, said his client was a victim of political vendetta and wrongfully implicated in false cases, which explains his eventual acquittals.
Nasir told media that he wants to lead a quiet life now, earn through business, and live peacefully with his wife. He sought everyone’s prayers.
