A. K. Faezul Huq

From left to right: Rukhsana Huq and A. K. Faezul Huq, with their daughter-in-law (March 2007)

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

Biography

A. K. Faezul & Rukhsana Huq (spouse, circa 1969)

A. K. Faezul and Rukhsana Huq (recent)

Born at Calcutta, Faezul was the only son of A. K. Fazlul Huq, then Chief Minister of undivided Bengal. He attended St. Gregory's High School, Dhaka Notre Dame College, and obtained his BA (Hon's) [Political Science] and MA [English] degrees from Dhaka University in 1966 and 1967 respectively. Later, Faezul completed his Law from Dhaka University, and Central Law College.

In August 1969, Faezul Huq joined the Department of Political Science at the Notre Dame College, Dhaka as a Lecturer on invitation. Huq later left the teaching profession and joined full-time politics in March 1970. He was elected as one of the youngest MNA in the then Pakistan National Assembly. Faezul was kept in confinement from July 1971 to end of September 1972, during the Bangladesh Liberation War, at Faisalabad former Lyallpur (then West Pakistan).

Huq later remained inactive till 1978, when he rejoined politics and was elected MP in 1979. He was made a member of the envoy's pool in 1980, and 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 till Martial Law was declared in March 1982. Between 1982 and 1994 he worked in the area of social work and sports. In 1994, he joined politics again, and was elected in 1996 June election. He was appointed Minister of State in charge of Ministry of Jute & Textiles. He was also an active member of the Lions Club in Bangladesh for 30 years, and had served District Governor 315 in various capacities till his death.^[1]

In his final years, Faezul Huq appeared on numerous television programs; namely, talk shows. Faezul also worked as a freelance journalist, writing for newspapers and periodicals including New Age, Holiday, Dhaka Courier, Financial Express, Prothom Alo.^[2] He was associated with a number of social and sports organizations, including 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. St. Gregory's High School has started to award an A. K. Faezul Huq Scholarship since 2007.^[3]

On July 19, 2007, A. K. Faezul Huq died of heart attack at his residence in Baridhara, Dhaka. His body was buried at Banani graveyard, Dhaka on July 20, 2007.^[4] He left behind his spouse, Rukhsana Huq, and five children: A. K. Ferzul Huq (Faisal), Fersamin Huq (Flora), Fahsina Huq (Lira), Fahmina Huq (Shyama), and barrister A. K. Fazlul Huq Jr.

References