Islam, Syed Ashraful
Islam, Syed Ashraful (1952-2019) one of the prominent national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam’s son Syed Ashraful Islam was a politician from head to toes. He was born on 1 January 1952 in Mymensingh. While he was studying at school, he joined the Students League as its worker in support of Bangabandhu’s six-point programme, the charter of emancipation of the Bengali nation. In course of time, he assumed the post of Office Secretary of the Students League District Committee. Also he was tasked with the post of Assistant General Secretary of the District Students’ League. He took the office of the General Secretary of the District Students’ League in 1970.
Trained by BLF, he provided military training to countless number of students and youth for the Liberation War and he himself was one of the combatants in the war. After independence, in the first conference of Bangladesh Students League in 1972, he became Assistant Organizing Secretary of the Central Committee led by Sheikh Shahidul Islam and MA Rashid. At his father’s wish, he went to London for higher studies.
After one-eleven (2007), he was the Acting General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League. Afterwards, he was elected General Secretary for two consecutive terms by the party Council held on 24 July 2009 and 29 December 2012. Till the next Council held in October 2016, he continued as the General Secretary of the Awami League. Prior to these, he was elected Joint Secretary of AL through the Council held on 26 December 2002.
On 3 November 1975, Syed Ashraf’s father Syed Nazrul was brutally killed in Dhaka Central Jail along with other three national leaders. He was in London at that time. During his stay in London, he was involved in different activities of the Bangladeshi community there. At that time, he was the member of Bangladesh Jubo League based in London. Ashraful was elected Education Secretary of the Federation of Bangladesh Youth Organization in UK. He played a significant role in registering protest and mobilizing public opinion for the trial of killers Bangbandhu in August 1975 as well as of the four national leaders, later, inside the central jail.
He returned home in 1996 and participated in the 7th parliament elections held on 12 June 1996. As a nominee of Awami League, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) from the Kishoreganj Sadar-1 Constituency. He served as the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism during 1996-2001. He was reelected member of Parliament in 2001. During 2001-2006, he was one of the members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was elected MP for the third time in 2008 and became the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. In the 10th parliament elections, he was elected MP for the fourth time from the same constituency, and once again, held the same portfolio. Since 9 July 2015, he was a Minister without portfolio. After one week, Minister for Public Administration. Although he was staying abroad due to his treatment, he contested in the 11th parliament election held on 30 December 2018 from Kishoreganj-1 (Kishoreganj Sadar and Hossainpur upazilla), constituency as Awami League nominee.
During 2007-2008, he successfully opposed the design of the army to prolong their stay in power. Ashraful Islam was admitted to the Bamrungrad Hospital in Thailand for treatment as he was infected with lung cancer. He breathed his last on 3 January 2019. He was buried at the Banani graveyard.
In his personal life, Syed Ashraful Islam was married to Sheila Tagore, a British Indian. This couple has one daughter named Rima Islam. [Sabbir Ahmed]
