Mirza Ghulam Hafiz


Mirza Ghulam Hafiz was a Bangladeshi statesman, politician, and philanthropist.

Early life and education

Hafiz was born to Mirza Azimuddin Sarkar on 2 January 1920 in Panchagarh District, East Bengal, British Raj. He obtained master's degree in economics in 1941 from University of Calcutta and a bachelor's of law degree in 1948 from the University of Dhaka.

Career

Hafiz was an active organizer of the Language Movement on two separate occasions—in 1952 and again in 1954—and was jailed both times. In 1954, he was elected to the provincial assembly in Bengal as a representative of the Panchagarh district as a candidate of the United Front. He provide legal support to the defence team in the Agartala Conspiracy Case.
Mirza Hafiz was one of the founding members of the 33 member Committee for Civil Liberties and Legal Aid which was established to protect the opposition politicians and members of civil society who were facing government prosecution on 31 March 1974.
In 1979, Hafiz was elected to the new parliament of Bangladesh and was appointed the Minister of Land Management. From 1978 to 1982, he served as the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad until the coup that assassinated the President, Ziaur Rahman. After the demolition of the autocratic government of Hossain Mohammad Ershad, he was reelected to the parliament in 1991. Under the BNP, he was appointed the Minister of Law and Justice. He retired from politics in 1995.

Death

Hafiz died on 20 December 2000.