Hafiz, Mirza Golam

Hafiz, Mirza Golam (1920-2000) lawyer, politician. He was born on 2 January 1920 at village Mirzapur in Panchagarh district. His father was Mirza Azimuddin Sarkar. Mirza Golam Hafiz obtained MA degree in Economics in 1941 from Calcutta University and B.L degree in 1948 from Dhaka University. Mirza Golam Hafiz was involved in politics since his student life. He was the president of Jalpaiguri district unit of All India Muslim Students Federation in 1938. Later he was elected as member of central committee and vice president of Bengal provincial unit of the Federation. In 1945-47 he performed the responsibility of the deputy chief (Nayeb-e-Suba) of the National Guard. During the partition of India in 1947 he led the movement launched for inclusion of the thanas of Panchagar, Tetulia, Deviganj and Patgram into East Bengal. Later the Radcliff Commission included these thanas into Pakistan. An exponent of citizens rights, Mirza Golam Hafiz was the general secretary of Pakistan branch of International Civil Liberties League in 1948-58. He was the treasurer of Ganatantri Dal in 1951-58. Golam Hafiz was a member of the Sarbadaliya Rashtra Bhasha Songram Parishad. For his active participation in the language movement he had to suffer imprisonment in 1952. Hafiz was elected a member of the Dhaka University Senate in 1953.

Mirza Golam Hafiz was elected a member of the East Bengal Provincial Assembly in 1954 as a candidate of united front. In 1954 he had to suffer imprisonment for his participation in the movement against the proclamation of Section 92-A by the government. He was elected president of Pakistan-China Maitry Samity in 1956. In 1967 he was elected as vice president of East Pakistan Bar Council and of All Pakistan Bar Council. Golam Hafiz rendered legal assistance to the accused in agartala conspiracy case in 1968.

Mirza Golam Hafiz was appointed as Minister for Land Administration in the cabinet of ziaur rahman in 1978. In 1979 he was elected a member of the Jatiya Sangsad as a candidate of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He performed the responsibilities of the Speaker in this Sangsad. He was again elected a member of the Jatiya Sangsad in 1991 and was included in the cabinet of begum khaleda zia in charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Mirza Golam Hafiz made important contribution towards the development of education and in social services. He established Mirza Golam Hafiz College in Atwari upazila. Dr. Abeda Hafiz Girls' School in Panchagarh town, Mirzapur Shishu Sadan and Maulana Azimuddin Madrasa, Mirza Golam Hafiz High School and Degree Madrasa at Tetulia. He died in Dhaka on 20 December 2000. [Abu Md. Delwar Hossain]