Nurul Islam Khan

Mr Md Nurul Islam Khan was born on January 16, 1946, in Sreedhorpur village, P.S Bishwanath, District of Sylhet, Bangladesh. He was a prominent politician, an organiser of the Bangladesh Liberation War, a seasoned Supreme court advocate, a philanthropist and a community activist who was well-liked and respected throughout the country. He participated in important national events including the liberation war, the six points movement, the mass upsurge of 69 and the reconstruction of a nation ravaged by war.

Education

Mr Khan began his primary education at a school close to his maternal grandfather`s house in Jafrabad, Dakshin Surma and finished in his own hometown of Sreedharpur. In Bishwanath, he attended Ramshundor High School for his secondary studies. In 1968, he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Madan Mohan College after completing his higher secondary studies at MC College, Sylhet. He was accepted as a student at Northampton College of Technology to study Leather Technology in the United Kingdom after earning his Bachelor`s Degree. However, the Pakistani Embassy was unable to assist him timely, therefore he was unable to join.

In 1976, he graduated from City Law College in Dhaka with an LLB.

Professional Life

Mr Md Nurul Islam Khan joined the Sylhet District Bar Association in 1977. He practised in Sylhet district bar and Bishwanath district bar. He joined Bangladesh Supreme Court in 1987. He was also a member of the International Bar Association headquartered in London.

He was the editor and publisher of “Banglar Mati”, a national weekly newspaper founded in 1991.

Mr Khan was also a businessman. He was the Managing Director of a bricks manufacturing company named “Shyamolima Bricks (Pvt) Ltd” and a member of Sylhet Chamber of Commerce.

Political Career

Mr. Nurul Islam Khan was involved in politics from his college days. He took the lead in many societal concerns. In 1964, he joined the “Ideal Party”, a local student union. He afterwards joined “Bangladesh Chatra League”. He played a significant role to support the “Six Point Movement” which was led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation. He participated extensively in 1969`s Mass Upsurge. In 1967, he was appointed as the Secretary of “Bishwanath Thana Awameleague”, a position he held until 1974. He was elected President of “Bishwanath Thana Awameleague” in 1974.

Colonel M A G Osmani was a candidate from Bishwanth-Balagong and Golapgonj-Fenchugonj during the 1970 election for the National Assembly. In Bishwanath, Mr Khan was in-charge of Colonel Osmani`s campaign. Following that Mr Khan was appointed as the convenor of “Thana Shongram Parishad”. Mr Khan was a key player in the election that he won, and he grew close to Colonel Osmani, who later became the Commander in Chief of Bangladesh Liberation War.

Liberation War

When the Liberation War began on March 26, 1971, Mr Khan actively participated. He led thousands of protestors in demonstrations against the Pakistani Army. He participated directly in the battles of

Rashidpur and Sherpur. Later, he relocated to Karimgonj, India, where he became the Secretary of “Shamshundor Transit Camp”, which was established to aid war refugees. Later, he was named Joint In-Charge of a different camp in Karimgonj Student home. Later, a committee was established by the United Kingdom Advisory Services (UKAS) under Mujibnagar government to address the immigration difficulties of British Expatriates living in Bangladesh. Mr Khan was appointed as the Secretary of that Committee. A committee office was then created, along with a larger transit camp. His responsibility was to serve as a liaison between the Mujibnagar government and the London Home Office, British High Commission, Indian External Affairs Ministry and Calcutta. He had to travel to Calcutta to address certain issues. The Commander in Chief of Bangladesh Liberation War Colonel M A G Osmani was informed that Mr Khan was in Calcutta and he was familiar with Mr Khan from his election. Mr Khan was then called to a meeting by Colonel Osmani who asked him to assist and work alongside him. Mr Khan expressed his interest to receive arms training, Colonel Osmani agreed to send Mr Khan along with a Sector Commander. But eventually Mr Khan began working with Colonel Osmani and served as his unofficial APS for a long period. He had travelled to numerous different areas of the battlefield with Colonel Osmani throughout this time.

On December 14, 1971, Colonel Osmani and Mr Nurul Islam Khan along with Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) M A Rob, Joint forces liaison officer Brigadier Ujjal Gupta from Indian Army, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman`s eldest son and ADC to Colonel Osmani Sheikh Kamal, Colonel Osmani`s press secretary Mostofa Allama, Founder of “Gonoshastho Kendro” Dr. Jaforullah and others travelled to the battlefield for inspection on a special aircraft from Domdom Airport. After spending the night in Gowhati they dropped off Mr Nurul Islam Khan at Kumbhigram Airport Shilchor on December 15, as he had expressed a desire to travel to his hometown. Colonel Osmani gave a handwritten note to Mr Khan instructing to provide him any help necessary towards his journey.

On 16 December that helicopter was shot down and Colonel Rob was severely injured.

Member of Parliament

After the war, Mr Nurul Islam Khan committed himself to the development of the country. He became the Chairman of “Thana Relief committee”. Mr Khan was elected as a Member of Parliament from Sylhet-2 (then Sylhet – 7) on March 7, 1973., in the first general election of independent Bangladesh by defeating his opponent with a difference of 26000 votes. Father of theNation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Mr Khan made history by becoming the youngest MP ever at the age of 27.

Jatiyo Janata Party

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman founded “Bangladesh Krishok Sromik Awame League (BaKSAL) after the Fourth Amendment to Bangladesh`s Constitution was passed on January 25, 1975. With the creation of BaKSAL all other political parties were outlawed and compelled to affiliate with party. On August 25 of the same year, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, and a new administration took power.

In 1976, Chief of Army Staff Ziaur Rahman became the President and granted permission to form new political parties. 5 September 1976, Commander in Chief of Bangladesh Liberation War, Bongobir General M A G Osmani (Promoted to General after independence) alongside Mr Nurul Islam Khan and other leaders founded “Jatiyo Janata Party”. Mr Khan was the proposer of the name “Jatiyo Janata Party”. As a candidate of the party General Osmani ran in the Presidential elections of 1978 and 1981. During both his election Mr Khan served as the campaign co-ordinator for greater Sylhet division. General Osmani passed away on 16 February 1984 and Mr Nurul Islam Khan became the party Chairman on 2 October 1987. He was repeatedly re-elected, and he served as the party`s Chairman up until his death. He was also the Chairman of “Gonotantrik Oikko Jot”, a coalition of a few political parties.

Achievements

Mr Nurul Islam Khan has made numerous improvements in his constituency. His hard work resulted in the establishment of Telegram Office and Telephone Exchange in Bishwanath. He built and developed numerous roads in his constituency. Local people named a road after him as “MP`r Sorokh” (Mp`s Road) in his honour. Mr Khan has been awarded numerous accolades throughout his life for his distinguished political career, devotion to people and social service. Mr Khan served as the Chairperson of an NGO named Social Welfare Association of Bangladesh (SWAB). During his Law studies, he worked as the founding Principal of National Assembly (National Parliament) Staff Welfare High School without any pay in 1969. He was the Chairman of Central Co- Operative Bank, Chairman of Ram Shundor School, the President of Sylhet Station Club, Advisor for “Brihottor Gonodabi Parishod”, member of the Parliament Member`s Club, Red Crescent, The Central Muslim Sahitya Sangsad and various societal and government bodies. He was associated with “Sylhet Bibhag Bastobayon Porishod” and put a lot of effort into getting Sylhet recognised as a division.

Family

The father of Mr Nurul Islam Khan, Feroze Khan was a British national and worked as a Box Minder for a wool combing mill. His Mother Nurunnessa was a devoted religious homemaker. Mr Khan was the oldest of three brothers. Syedul Islam Khan, settled in the United Kingdom is a well-known community figure and social activist. His youngest brother, Nazrul Islam Khan, also settled in the UK, is a businessman.

In his personal life, Mr Khan married Rexona Islam Chowdhury, a social activist and philanthropist who serves as Vice President of the Inner Wheel Club of Sylhet. Her father Roisul Haque Chowdhury worked as a Forest Official for the government of Pakistan, later Bangladesh. Her mother Jamirun Nessa was a devout Muslim homemaker.

Mr Khan has four children. Tahminul Islam Khan LL.M his oldest son, works as an Advocate and an Income Tax Consultant at the Judge`s Court, Sylhet. He is well-known in the community and represents his father`s “Jatiya Janata Party” as the President of greater Sylhet by following the footprints of his father. He is married to Dr Naomi Khaled who is a Lecturer in Sylhet Women`s Medical College.

Dr Nahla Islam Khan, the eldest daughter of Mr Khan, works as an Associate Professor at Marks Medical College in Dhaka. Her husband Tahsinur Rahim CIA is the Executive Vice President of Guardian Life Insurance.

Tahrinul Islam Khan MPA, Mr Khan`s youngest son is settled in the United Kingdom and is an Accountant, works in a private company within the Life and Pension sector. His wife Noushin Sikder MChem works as a Material Scientist.

Dr Nabila Islam Khan, youngest child of Mr Khan is working as a trainee Neurologist in Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital and her husband Dr Tafhim Ahmed Rifat is Assistant Director of Sylhet Women`s Medical College and Hospital.

Mr Nurul Islam Khan was a remarkable individual known for his exceptional qualities. Prior to his passing, My Khan was a paragon of humility, punctuality, and purposeful communication. His humility was evident in his interactions with everyone. However, what truly set him apart was his deliberate and meaningful speech; each word he uttered carried weight and purpose. He was a man of his word. Mr Khan’s legacy is not just in his accomplishments but in how he lived his life, serving as an enduring source of inspiration for all fortunate enough to know him. Mr Khan lived till the age of 78. Mr Khan’s passing also reflected his life, as he dedicated his life to his nation and departed on a momentous day, 21 February 2023. – International Mothers Language Day, leaving behind a legacy that echoed his unwavering commitment to his country.