Aminuddin, Muhammad

Aminuddin, Muhammad (1921-1971) lawyer, politician, martyr in the War of Liberation. He was born in 1921 at village Gouripur in Lalpur thana of Natore district. His father was Harun-ar-Rashid Molla. Mohammad Aminuddin passed Matriculation examination in 1938 from Khanjanpur Mission High School, Jaipurhat, IA from Rajshahi Government College in 1940 and BA in 1942. In the same year he started his career as Inspector in Bengal Civil Supplies Department, Kolkata. He obtained BL degree from Dhaka University in 1950. He then resigned from service and started legal practice in Dhaka.

Aminuddin became member of Pabna District Bar Association in 1952 and passed his working life in Pabna. He was involved in Awami League politics in 1953. He suffered imprisonment for a long time for his participation in anti-Ayub movement. He was elected general secretary of Pabna District Bar Association in 1970. He was elected vice chairman of Pabna Municipality in the same year. In 1970, he was elected a member of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly as a candidate of Awami League.

In March 1971, Muhammad Aminuddin led the Non-cooperation Movement in Pabna. He was the convenor of Pabna Zilla Mukti Sangram Parishad. He ventured to create resistance to the Pak army in Pabna after the army crack down. But the Pak army arrested him along with some others on the night of 26 March, and was shot dead on 29 March.

Muhammad Aminuddin had significant contribution as an organiser and patron of learning. He was the founder of Pabna Law College where he worked as an honorary Lecturer since its inception. Besides, he played pioneering role in founding the Pabna Mohila College and Shaheed Bulbul College.

After the liberation, Pabna Law College was renamed as Shaheed Aminuddin Law College. The Postal Department of Bangladesh issued a commemorative postal stamp in memory of Aminuddin on the occasion of Martyred Intellectual Day on 14 December 1993. In recognition of his contribution in the War of Liberation, the Government of Bangladesh honoured him with the Independent Day Award in 2001 (posthumously). [Abu Md. Delwar Hossain]