Hossain, Sayed Moazzem

Hossain, Sayed Moazzem (1901-1991) educationist and Islamic scholar, born in the village of Baniara in tangail in 1901. He completed MA in Arabic from Dhaka University in 1924, securing the first class.

After completing his studies, he joined Dhaka University in 1924 as a research scholar in Bangla. Two years later he went to Oxford University on a state scholarship and acquired the D Phil and D Litt degrees. He studied Arabic in Lebanon, Egypt and Syria and obtained the LLD degree from Dalhousie University, Canada in 1949.

He joined Dhaka University in 1930 as Reader in the Department of Arabic, and was later promoted to the rank of professor. He served as head of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies (1935-1948) and also held the position of provost of SM Hall (1942). He was vice-chancellor (1948-1953) and emeritus professor (1974-1991) of Dhaka University. Hossain's tenure as vice-chancellor was marked by the language movement. Though under great pressure from the government, he firmly maintained the statuary rights of the university.

Moazzem Hossain was a member of the Madrassa Education Development Committee (1939), Madrasah Education Syllabus Amendment Committee (1946), Pakistan Educational Advisory Committee (1950), British Commonwealth and Pakistan Federal Public Service Commission. He also held the position of chairman of the East Pakistan Civil Service Commission, East Pakistan Islamic University Commission (1962-64) and Islamic Academy Governing Board (1969-71). He attended the first International Islamic Conference held in Makkah on behalf of Bangladesh government. in 1977.

In 1984, he was given the Islamic Foundation Award for Education. His published works include Marifatu ulumil Hadith, Kalbiatul Jahelia, Nakhbatum Min Kitabil Ektiarin and Kasidatu Jahelia are noteworthy. [ABM Saiful Islam Siddiqi]