M Amir-ul Islam ( bn, এম আমীর-উল ইসলাম; born 2 January 1936) is a Bangladeshi lawyer and politician. He drafted the
proclamation of independence of
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million pe ...
in 1971 and was a member of the drafting committee of Bangladesh Constitution in 1972.
[ He served as the ]Minister of Food
The Minister of Food Control (1916–1921) and the Minister of Food (1939–1958) were British government ministerial posts separated from that of the Minister of Agriculture. In the Great War the Ministry sponsored a network of canteens known as ...
of the Government of Bangladesh
The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার — ) is the central executive government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Co ...
during 1973–74.
Education and career
Islam passed his matriculation in 1952 from Kushtia Muslim High School and intermediate exam in 1954 from Jagannath College
Jagannath University (JnU) ( bn, জগন্নাথ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ''Jagannātha biśbabidyālaẏa'', University Acrostic : জবি or JnU) is a state-funded public university at 9–10, Chittaranjan Avenue in S ...
, Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...
. Islam completed his bachelor's degree in political science, economics and general history from the University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka (also known as Dhaka University, or DU) is a public research university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is the oldest university in Bangladesh. The university opened its doors to students on July 1st 1921. Currently i ...
in 1956. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn, London in 1961.
Bangladesh Liberation War
The 1970 general election, the first of its kind in Pakistan after years of military rule, was held on 7 December 1970. The Awami League In Urdu language, Awami is the adjectival form for ''Awam
Awam ( ur, ) is the Urdu language word for common people or general public. In the early 20th century, the word was extensively used in the Indian subcontinent to refer to the general po ...
, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ( bn, শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান; 17 March 1920 – 15 August 1975), often shortened as Sheikh Mujib or Mujib and widely known as Bangabandhu (meaning ''Friend of Bengal''), was a Bengali politi ...
, secured 160 out of 300 seats, becoming the majority in the National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...
. On 1 March, Yahya Khan postponed the inaugural session of the National Assembly on 3 March, indefinitely. According to him, "it was imperative to give more time to the political leaders to arrive at a reasonable understanding on the issue of Constitution making". Awami League president Sheikh Mujib immediately called for non-cooperation by his people, effectively taking control of East Pakistan. Mujib kept issuing regular directives to people and party workers. Amir-ul Islam, along with Tajuddin Ahmad
Tajuddin Ahmad ( bn, তাজউদ্দীন আহমদ; ; 23 July 1925 – 3 November 1975) was a Bangladeshi politician and statesman. He led the Provisional Government of Bangladesh as its prime minister during the Bangladesh Liberatio ...
, the general secretary of Awami League, and Kamal Hossain
Kamal Hossain (born 20 April 1937) is a founding leader, lawyer and politician of Bangladesh. He is known as the "father of the Bangladeshi constitution" and regarded as an icon of secular democracy in the Indian subcontinent. Hossain current ...
, were put in charge of drafting the directives.
On the night of 25 March, Amir-ul Islam and Tajuddin Ahmad left their homes and families and went into hiding. They secretly left Dhaka on 27 March for neighbouring India. After a perilous journey, mostly on foot through Kushtia
Kushtia ( bn, কুষ্টিয়া) is a city in the Khulna Division of southwestern Bangladesh. Kushtia is the second largest municipality in Bangladesh and the eleventh largest city in the country. The second largest city in Khulna div ...
and Chuadanga
Chuadanga ( bn, চুয়াডাঙ্গা) is a prosperous city in the western part of Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and depe ...
, they crossed the Indian border on 30 March. At the border outpost the regional head of the Indian border security force (BSF BSF may refer to:
Organisations
* Ballerup-Skovlunde Fodbold, a Danish football club
* British Skin Foundation, a UK charity raising money for skin disease and skin cancer research
* Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, an international non profit
* ...
), Golok Majumdar received them. Majudmar immediately transported them to Kolkata with him. There, on the night of 30 March and the next day, Islam and Tajuddin had discussions with BSF chief Rustamji, who had come from Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders wi ...
after learning of their arrival. On 1 April, Islam and Tajuddin, accompanied by Majumdar, left for Delhi aboard a military cargo plane.
In Delhi, Tajuddin met with India's Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, on 4 April. At their second meeting the following day, Gandhi informed him that Sheikh Mujib had been arrested and transported to Pakistan though Pakistan had not made this official yet. Asked about the Bangladesh government, he replied, as Amir-ul Islam advised the day before, that a provisional government had been formed with Sheikh Mujib as its president with the senior Awami League leaders who had attended the Mujib-Yahya talks as cabinet members.
Islam drafted the proclamation of independence, which was reviewed by Subrata Roy Chowdhury
Subrata Roy Chowdhury is an Indian lawyer in the Supreme Court of India and in the Calcutta High Court. He is known for his works on international human rights law. He helped draft the proclamation of independence of Bangladesh written by M Am ...
, a lawyer at the Calcutta High Court
The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in India. It is located in B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal. It has jurisdiction over the state of West Bengal and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The High Court ...
, and read during the oath taking ceremony on 17 April at Mujibnagar
Mujibnagar ( bn, মুজিবনগর), formerly known as Baidyanathtala (Boiddonathtola) and Bhoborpara, is a town in the Mujibnagar Upazila of Bangladesh. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed on 10 April 1971, however, swor ...
.
Personal life
Islam is married to Jahanara Amir. Eldest of their three children is their daughter Barrister Tania Amir. They have two sons, Adil Islam a banker, and Zaid Islam a photojournalist.[
]
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Islam, M Amir-ul
Living people
1937 births
People from Kushtia District
University of Dhaka alumni
20th-century Bangladeshi lawyers
Awami League politicians
Food ministers of Bangladesh
1st Jatiya Sangsad members
20th-century Pakistani lawyers