Dabirul Islam Choudhury
Dabirul Islam Choudhury (1 January 1920 – 13 January 2026) was a Bangladeshi-British community leader, poet[1] and philanthropist.[2] He is widely known for his extensive charitable fundraising activities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic,[3] and for his long-standing service to immigrant communities in the United Kingdom.[4] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his humanitarian contributions.[5]
Early life and education
Choudhury was born on 1 January 1920 in Kulonj village, Derai Upazila, Sunamganj District, then part of Assam Province (now in modern-day Bangladesh).[6][4] In 1957, he moved to the United Kingdom to pursue studies in English literature at King's College in London.[5]
Career
After moving to the United Kingdom in 1957, Choudhury devoted his life primarily to community service and humanitarian work.[7] He assisted immigrant communities, particularly British Bangladeshis, with social integration, language support, housing, and employment.[8][9]
Alongside his community work, he is known as a poet and writer, having authored numerous poems and literary works in Bengali.[10] Choudhury later gained international recognition for his charitable fundraising, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,[11] when his efforts raised significant funds for healthcare and humanitarian causes.[2]
Death
Choudhury died at the Royal London Hospital in East London, on 13 January 2026, at the age of 106. His family announced that he died in the early hours of that day.[12]
Awards
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) – Appointed in the Queen's Birthday Honours (2020) for charitable fundraising and humanitarian services during the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]
References
- ^ "সমাজসেবক কবি দবিরুল ইসলাম চৌধুরী ওবিই'র জানাজা ১৫ জানুয়ারি বৃহস্পতিবার". www.janomot.com. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Walking the talk: Bangladeshi man, 100, channels Ramadan spirit for COVID-19 relief". Arab News. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "101-year-old London hero sets global challenge to raise money for refugees". Middle East Monitor. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Dabir Chacha: A living legend | The Daily Star". www.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ a b "100-year-old man made OBE for Covid-19 fundraiser in Queen's Birthday Honours". The Independent. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Instagram Post Telling Age". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Raising £420,000 for coronavirus charities: 100-year-old British Bangladeshi honoured by the Queen | The Daily Star". www.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Ukraine war: 102-year-old fundraiser holds silence in support of Ukrainian refugees from his garden". Sky News. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ Perraudin, Frances (5 May 2020). "Fast walking, light relief and a comic's supermarket rejection". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "করোনা ভাইরাস: শতবর্ষী দবিরুল চৌধুরীকে মহামারির জন্য অর্থ সংগ্রহের স্বীকৃতিতে পদক দিলেন ব্রিটেনের রানি". BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). 9 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ ইসলাম, সাইদুল (15 January 2026). "লন্ডনে বসবাস করা 'কোভিড হিরো' দবিরুল ইসলাম চৌধুরী মারা গেছেন". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ^ "100-Year-Old Londoner Awarded OBE for Raising £420K to Fight COVID-19 During Ramadan". Global Citizen. Retrieved 16 January 2026.