Baksh, Madar

Baksh, Madar (1905-1967) politician and social worker. He was born in a poor peasant family at village Sthapandighi under Singra upazila of Natore. He passed BA examination from rajshahi college in 1926, obtained MA degree (in History) from Calcutta University in 1928 and received BL degree from Ripon College in 1929. He earned while he learnt and defrayed his educational expenses himself. He joined the Rajshahi Judge Court as an advocate in 1934.

Madar Baksh was elected a member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly on muslim league ticket in 1946 and was a member of the East Bengal Legislative Assembly from 1947 to 1954. He was elected chairman of the Rajshahi Municipality in 1950 and remained in this position till 1956. Under his care the Rajshahi town witnessed development in various fields- educational, cultural and also in respect of physical growth. He was one of those who took initiative to establish the Rajshahi University. In recognition of his contributions a residential hall of Rajshahi University and a road of Rajshahi town have been named after him. The Madar Baksh Ideal School (1986) and the Madar Baksh Home Economics Girls' College (1986) were also named after him. He died of cancer on 20 January 1967. [SM Abdul Latif]