Mahbub, Kazi Golam

Mahbub, Kazi Golam (1927-2006) language movement activist, politician. Born on 23 December 1927 at village Kasba in Gouranadi upazila of Barisal district, Golam Mahbub developed interest in politics since his student life. He was an active worker of the Pakistan movement since 1942. He was elected as vice president of the students union of Calcutta Islamia College in 1946.

After the partition of India in 1947 Golam Mahbub came to Dhaka and got admission at the master's level in Political Science. He joined the Workers' Camp, an organisation of the progressive students and youths. He participated in the language movement as an activist of the tamaddun majlish. He was a founding member of the East Pakistan Muslim Chhatra League formed in Dhaka on 4 January 1948. He was arrested on 11 March 1948 during the strike called for making Bangla a state language of Pakistan. He had active role in organizing the strike for realizing the demands of class four employees of Dhaka University in 1949. He was kept confined in the central jail for over two months. Golam Mahbub was elected as convener of the All Party State Language Action Committee formed on 31 January 1952. He was arrested in 1952 for participating in the language movement and was kept confined for one year.

Golam Mahbub was a member of the central committee of the provincial unit of Awami League between 1949 and 1968. He was elected the general secretary of the greater Barisal district unit of Awami League in 1953. He played the role of an organiser in all democratic movements aimed at achieving autonomy for East Pakistan including the six-point Programme of 1966, the mass upsurge of 1969, the election of 1970, and the war of liberation of 1971. Golam Mahbub opposed the formation of baksal in 1975. He joined Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978 and was made vice chairman and chief of political research council of the party.

Kazi Golam Mahbub was elected the president of Supreme Court Bar Association in 1993-94. During this period he organized a movement of the lawyers to compel the government to take decision to appoint High Court judges in consultation with the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

In recognition of his contributions to nation-building movements and activities, Kazi Golam Mahbub was awarded the Principal Abul Kashem Rashtra-bhasha Gold Medal in 1993, Jatiyatabadi Sanskritic Jote Padak in 1998, Matri-bhasha Padak of Tamuddun Majlish in 2000, Ekushey Padak in 2002 and Bhasha Sainik Padak of Bangladesh Awami League in 2002. He died in Dhaka on 19 March 2006. The Road No. 10 of Dhanmondi has been named after him by the Dhaka City Corporation. [MR Mahbub]