A. K. Faezul Huq

Abul Kalam Faezul Huq (A. K. Faezul Huq) () (15 March 1945 – 19 July 2007) was a Bangladeshi politician, lawyer, and columnist. Faezul Huq served as a member of parliament on three occasions, and held various ministerial portfolios including Public Works, Urban Development, Jute, and Textiles after Bangladesh gained independence. He was first elected as a member of the Pakistan National Assembly from the Banaripara Upazila- Swarupkathi- Nazirpur Upazila constituency for the Awami League in 1970.

On 19 July 2007, Faezul Huq died of a heart attack at his residence in Baridhara, Dhaka. His body was buried at Banani graveyard, Dhaka on 20 July 2007.

Early life

Born in Calcutta, Faezul Huq was the only son of A. K. Fazlul Huq, then Prime Minister of an undivided Bengal. He attended St. Gregory's High School, Dhaka Notre Dame College and by 1967 had obtained degrees in political science and English from Dhaka University. Later Faezul Huq completed his law degree at the Dhaka University and Central Law College. He was also an Advocate enrolled to practice in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

Career

In August 1969, Faezul Huq was invited to join the Department of Political Science at the Notre Dame College, Dhaka as a lecturer. Faezul Huq later left the teaching profession and entered full-time politics in March 1970. He was elected as one of the youngest members of the then Pakistan National Assembly.

Faezul Huq was kept in confinement, along with his wife Rukhsana Huq, in July 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War, at Faisalabad (in then West Pakistan), and at gunpoint forced to sign a blank piece of paper by the Pakistani forces which would be later used against him in allegations that he had made pro-West Pakistan statements during the War. Faezul Huq, along with his wife, who was pregnant at the time, were released shortly afterwards.

In the later years, Faezul Huq tried but ultimately failed to clear his name from the allegations against him: that he had purportedly made pro-West Pakistani statements during the ongoing Liberation War at the time. These allegations would be later repeatedly mentioned by his Bangladeshi political rivals and journalists, so much so, it went into print, which adversely affected Faezul Huq's political career throughout the later years of his life.

After the Liberation War, he was accused of allegedly having close ties with the then West Pakistan because he had Pakistani relatives from his maternal side and because of his alleged pro-Pakistani written statement. As a result, he was arrested on 17 December 1971 and imprisoned until September 1972 under the Collaborators Act, 1972.

Faezul Huq was released after a formal appeal from his wife, Rukhsana Huq, with the assistance of Rafiqullah Chaudhury, Secretary to the then Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The appeal was addressed to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for his consent.

It is noteworthy to mention here that during the Liberation War, Faezul Huq was the only Bangladeshi to be accused and arrested by the Pakistani army for assisting the Mukti Bahini on suspicions of providing the latter shelter at his 27, K. M. Das Lane, Tikatuli residence during the war, and post Liberation War, also arrested by the Mukti Bahini on suspicions of siding with West Pakistan due to the pro-West Pakistan libelous statement Faezul Huq was falsely framed with by the Pakistani army.

After his release, Faezul Huq stayed away from politics until 1978, when he sought election to the Parliament. He was elected as an MP in 1979. He was made a member of the envoy's pool in 1980, and a Director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank in 1981. He was appointed a Minister of State in charge of public works in early 1982, and remained in office until the 1982 Bangladeshi coup d'état in March.

From 1982 until 1994, he focused his efforts on social work and sports. He was an active member of the Lions Club in Bangladesh for 30 years.

In 1994, he became involved in politics again, and was elected in the June 1996 election. He was appointed Minister of State in charge of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute. He stood for re-election in the 2001 Bangladeshi general election, losing to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate.

Shortly after the 2001 election, the new government opened corruption cases against a number of individuals who had served in the outgoing government, including Faezul Huq.

In his final years, Faezul Huq appeared on numerous current affairs television programs. Faezul Huq also worked as a freelance journalist, writing for newspapers and periodicals including ''New Age'', ''Holiday'', ''Dhaka Courier'', ''Financial Express'', ''Prothom Alo''. He was associated with a number of social and sports organizations, including the Red Crescent Society, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Cancer Society, Gregorian Association, Bangladesh - China Friendship Society, Bangladesh Shooting Federation, Lions Club of Bangladesh, Dhaka Club, Anjuman Mufidul Islam and Brothers Union Club. Since 2007, St. Gregory's High School has awarded an ''A. K. Faezul Huq Scholarship''.

Personal life

A. K. Faezul Huq was initially married to Marium Begum in 1966, but the couple separated verbally in 1969. A formal divorce was finalized in 1976, as documented in a Sharia declaration during his lifetime. Following this separation, he married Rukhsana Huq, with whom he had three daughters and two sons. The certified divorce document from 1976 and the subsequent Affidavit signed by A. K. Faezul Huq, although not timely traced and produced before the Appellate Division judgment, confirms the legal conclusion of the first marriage and emphasizes that Marium Begum and her children are not recognized as part of his family legacy.

In 1970, Faezul Huq married Rukhsana Faez Huq, the daughter of Engineer Salamatullah Khan and Sophia Begum. Rukhsana Faez Huq passed away on 24 January 2020 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Children and Grandchildren

According to an Affidavit signed by A. K. Faezul Huq himself, his only children are A. K. Ferzul Huq (Faisal), Fersamin Huq (Flora), Fahsina Huq (Lira), Fahmina Huq (Shyama) and A. K. Fazlul Huq Jr. (Pikku). These are the only officially recognized descendants through whom his lineage continues.

The grandchildren include:

Fersamin Huq Flora:
* Raha Faez Huq Iqbal
* Zaynah Mishkat Huq Iqbal

Fahsina Huq Lira:
* Farasat Alam Faizaan
* Fasahat Alam Faaris

Fahmina Huq Shyama:
* Sarim Alam Chaklader Huq (Daib)

A. K. Fazlul Huq Jr. (Pikku):
* Azmara Huq (Saria)
* Ashrah Huq (Saba)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faezul Huq, Abul Kalam
A. K. Fazlul Huq
1945 births
2007 deaths
Burials at Banani Graveyard
State ministers of housing and public works of Bangladesh
State Ministers of Textiles and Jute (Bangladesh)
2nd Jatiya Sangsad members
7th Jatiya Sangsad members
Notre Dame College, Dhaka alumni
Academic staff of Notre Dame College, Dhaka
University of Dhaka alumni
Bangladesh Nationalist Party politicians
Awami League politicians
20th-century Bengalis
People from Barisal District
St. Gregory's High School and College alumni
Candidates in the 1970 Pakistani general election
Members of the Constituent Assembly of Bangladesh
Children of prime ministers