Zahir’s love for medicinal plants

The story of Language movement hero Zahir Uddin Ahmed, who died at his home at Naodabash village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila on Friday evening, is quite encouraging, especially when people have been cutting trees for personal interest and financial gain.

The language movement veteran, who left behind four sons and three daughters, had been suffering from various old-age complications for the last four years, his wife Jamila Khatun said.

Born on March 23 in 1935, Zahir passed his SSC and HSC exams from Lalmonirhat High School (now Lalmonirhat Government Boys' High School) in 1953 and Rangpur Carmichael College in 1956 respectively.

Although Zahir, who was a Class X student during the Language Movement in 1952, had several job opportunities, he didn't join any of those.

The language hero established three educational institutions in his locality, but used to run his family by farming different crops.

Moreover, Zahir, also a local herbal medicine practitioner, planted different types of herbal plants around his homestead for medicinal use.

He was fond of medicinal plants since childhood and used to take care of the herbs every day till his death.

Zahir planted around 50 species of different medicinal plants at his homestead and often used to provide herbal treatment to the villagers for common illness.

Besides, Zahir never took any aromatic medicines, except the herbs, in his entire life.

While talking to this correspondent, Abdul Quader Bhasani, the only language movement veteran in Lalmonirhat alive, said he is mentally upset by the demise of Zahir Uddin Ahmed.

"Zahir was my classmate during the school and college life. We joined the language movement together and fought for the country's freedom," he said.

Zahir's wife Jamila said though her husband had been suffering from illness, he never forgot to take care of the medicinal plants he planted.

"There was a financial crisis in the family, but my husband was always there for the villagers," Jamila added.