Abdus Sobhan

Member of Jatiya Sangsad Maulana Muhammad Abdus Sobhan
Member of Parliament for 5th Jatiya Sangsad Members, Pabna-5
In office 1991–1995
Member of Parliament for 8th Jatiya Sangsad Members, Pabna-5
In office 2001–2006
Personal details
Born	19 February 1936 Sujanagar, Pabna
Died	14 February 2020(2020-02-14) (aged 83) Dhaka Medical College Hospital
Resting place	Pabna Sadar Arifpur graveyard
Citizenship	Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi
Political party	Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Occupation	Politics
Known for	Islami Politics & religious personality

Maulana Muhammad Abdus Sobhan (Bengali: মাওলানা মুহাম্মদ আব্দুস সুবহান; 19 February 1936^[1] – 14 February 2020)^[2] was a Bangladeshi politician. He was a member of the central working committee of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He was a two term parliamentarian from Pabna-5 constituency, elected in 1991 and 2001.^[3][4] He went to trial for his relationship with war crimes allegedly committed during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Early life and education

Abdus Sobhan was born on 19 February 1936^[5][1] in the village of Mominpara, Sujanagar thana, Pabna district. His father, Munshi Nayeem Uddin Ahmed, was an Islamic scholar. In 1965, he moved with his family to Pathortola, Gopalpur, Pabna city, and has resided there permanently.^[6] He enrolled at the Ramchandrapur Maktab.^{[citation needed]} Then he completed his primary education in Manikhaat and Machpara Primary School. In 1941, he enrolled into Ulat Madrassah and studied there till 1947, completing his matriculation. In 1950, he obtained his alim certification.^{[citation needed]} In 1952, he obtained his fazil degree from Sirajganj Alia Madrassah. In 1954, he obtained his kamil degree with distinction from the same madrassah, obtaining 7th position in the first division in the madrassah board.^[6]

Career

Teaching

After completion of his fazil studies, he joined Pabna Aliya Madrasah. After that he taught at Gopalchandra institute, Arifpur Ulat Senior Madrassah and Magura Baroria Fazil Madrasah. His teaching career spanned 10 years from 1952 to 1962.^[6]

Politics

Abdus Sobhan was active in politics from his student life. He was secretary of Pabna District for East Pakistan Jamiat Talaba Arabiya. In 1951, he joined Jamaat-e-Islami and over time was appointed the Ameer of Pabna District. He was a member of the Central Majlis-e-Shura, the central working committee and the executive committee of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He was also a Nayeb-e-Ameer of the party.^[6]

Member of parliament

In 1962 and again in 1965, he was elected as a member of the East Pakistan Constituent Assembly and acted as the senior deputy leader of the opposition in his latter term.^[6] He was a member of parliament elected from Pabna-5 constituency in 1991, and deputy leader of the Jamaat's parliamentary group, securing 47.31% of the votes.^[7] In 2001, he was again elected as a member of parliament from Pabna-5 constituency as a candidate of 4-party alliance, securing 56.78% of the votes in his constituency.^[8] In 1996, he campaigned on a platform to increase women's education.^[9]

Arrest and trial

Abdus Sobhan was arrested on 20 September 2012 from Bangabandhu Bridge area while he was traveling from Dhaka to Pabna. Later, he was taken to Pabna to appear before the court that issued the warrant against him in connection with a case filed in 2003.^[10][11]

A day after his arrest he appeared before the International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh) in Dhaka on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.^[12] The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT) framed nine charges of wartime offences against Abdus Sobhan for alleged crimes against humanity in 1971.^[13][14] Sobhan denied the charges brought against him and claimed that he had served as a mole for the Mukti Bahini against Pakistani forces in his time at the Peace Committee.^[15]

Death

Abdus Sobhan died on 14 February 2020 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital at the age of 83.^[2] He was buried the following day at Pabna Sadar Arifpur graveyard.^[16]

References

1. "Nation awaits disposal of four pending appeals". Daily Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
2. মানবতাবিরোধী অপরাধে মৃত্যুদণ্ডপ্রাপ্ত আব্দুস সুবহানের মৃত্যু. Amader Shomoy (in Bengali). 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
3. "List of 5th Parliament Members" (PDF). Jatiya Sangsad (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 April 2018.
4. "List of 8th Parliament Members" (PDF). Jatiya Sangsad (in Bengali). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
5. মাওলানা আব্দুস সুবহানের ইন্তিকাল. Daily Naya Diganta (in Bengali). Retrieved 14 February 2020.
6. "Chairman's Corner, Imam Gazzali Trust, Pabna, Bangladesh". Imam Gazzali Trust. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
7. "Electoral Area 72, Pabna-5 constituency, 1991". Amar Desh. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
8. "Electoral Area 72, Pabna-5 constituency, 2001". Amar Desh. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
9. Shehabuddin, Elora (2012). Reshaping the Holy: Democracy, Development, and Muslim Women in Bangladesh (2 ed.). Columbia University Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0231512558.
10. "Jamaat leader Abdus Sobhan detained". The Financial Express. Dhaka. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
11. "Jamaat leader Sobhan arrested". Daily Sun. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
12. "Next report against Abdus Sobhan on July 14". Dhaka Tribune. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
13. "Charges framed against Jamaat leader Maulana Abdus Sobhan-trial start on Jan 28". BdChronicle. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
14. "Charges pressed against Maulana Sobhan". Dhaka Tribune. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
15. "Sobhan Trial: Tribunal rejects indictment review". The Bangladesh Chronicle. 27 March 2014. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
16. জামায়াত নেতা আব্দুস সুবহানের দাফন সম্পন্ন. Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). 15 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.