THROUGHOUT history, countless individuals have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity — quietly, selflessly, and without any desire for recognition or fame. These unsung heroes, whether working alone or as part of a collective effort, often remain hidden from public view, their invaluable contributions overlooked by history. Yet sharing their stories is vital, especially with younger generations, so they may draw inspiration from these lives of purpose and integrity and be encouraged to contribute to a more just and compassionate society in their own unique ways.
One such individual is Mohammad Imtiazur Rahman Farooqui, widely known in legal circles as MI Farooqui (November 1938 – May 3, 2025) — a devoted and silent advocate for justice. He was born in Patna, Bihar, India, in November 1938, one of eight siblings in a family rooted in education and values. At a time when formal schooling was not widespread, his parents arranged for a home tutor to ensure their children received a solid educational foundation. When he was just nine years old, his family witnessed the horrors of the Bihar riots — a traumatic chapter that compelled them to leave their homeland permanently. Seeking safety, they took refuge in Kolkata, where his father arranged for his admission to the renowned Orphanage School, Kolkata. It was there that he completed his primary education.
However, another wave of communal violence soon followed in Kolkata. Deeply affected and disenchanted, his father — motivated by the belief that the land their ancestors had lived on for generations was no longer safe or welcoming for Muslims — made the difficult decision to migrate to East Pakistan. The family eventually settled in Dhaka, making their home in the historic Lalbagh area of the city. Farooqui was admitted to Rahmatullah High School in Lalbagh in class six and completed his matriculation examination in 1952. He then enrolled at Quaid-e-Azam College (now Suhrawardy College) for higher secondary studies. A lifelong fighter, Farooqui suffered a stroke that caused permanent loss of movement in his right hand. Yet he did not give up. Once he began to recover, he taught himself to write with his left hand, showing remarkable resilience and determination. He successfully resumed his studies, completing his Intermediate of Arts in 1960 and his Bachelor of Arts in 1963.
During his student years, Farooqui stepped into the world of Urdu journalism. He was deeply aware of the systemic discrimination faced by journalists, who were often unable to carry out their duties independently due to pressure from both media owners and the government. He fearlessly raised his voice for press freedom during the military regime of Ayub Khan in East Pakistan. He stood firmly in support of their rights, demanding that the government establish a wage board to ensure fair and just compensation for journalists. Farooqui led from the front — organising processions, strikes, and protest movements — which eventually compelled the authorities to act. His tireless efforts, along with the collective movement of the journalist community under his leadership, led to the formation of the first wage board in Dhaka.
At that time, journalists in East Pakistan were broadly divided into two ideological factions: pro-Russian and pro-Chinese. Farooqui aligned himself with the pro-Chinese group, which was inspired and led by the renowned Bangladeshi journalist Ataus Samad, a prominent voice for revolutionary thought and media activism. Despite the opportunities that came his way, he sought a profession that would allow him to live independently, free from external influence or control.
His paternal grandfather, Aminuddin, had been engaged in the legal profession as a mukhtar (licensed legal practitioner) at the Begusarai Court in Bihar. Inspired by his grandfather’s legacy and seeking a career that would grant him independence and integrity, Farooqui chose to pursue law. He enrolled at City Law College, Dhaka, and successfully completed his law degree in 1968. He later passed the Bar examination and became a licensed advocate in the lower courts in 1971.
In the early days of his legal career, Farooqui served as an assistant to Justice TH Khan, who would later become a prominent politician affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He began his career as a court correspondent for The Bangladesh Observer, where he worked under senior advocate Hamidul Haque Chowdhury, who was also a journalist for the same newspaper and had previously served as the foreign minister of united Pakistan. These formative experiences provided him with valuable exposure to both the legal and political landscapes of the time.
In the wake of the 1971 liberation movement, Bangladesh emerged as a new nation on the world map. Amid this rapidly shifting political landscape, the Urdu-speaking community that had migrated from India faced immense hardship and suffering. This community was subjected to widespread violence and massacres, yet both Pakistan and Bangladesh chose to suppress or ignore these atrocities for their own political interests. Those who survived were left with few options: many were forced to migrate again — some to Pakistan, others to different parts of the world. Their properties, homes and residential accommodations were seized or occupied in the aftermath of the war.
Those who remained in Bangladesh were divided into two groups. One half took refuge in makeshift camps established by the International Committee of the Red Cross, a Geneva-based humanitarian organisation. The other half chose to live outside the camps, integrating into the mainstream society of the newly independent nation. In response to the changing socio-political landscape, the government enacted the Abandoned Property Act, which had far-reaching implications for displaced and marginalised communities. As a member of the affected community, Farooqui stepped forward to support efforts to reclaim confiscated properties. He developed a deep expertise in this area of law and became a key figure in legal advocacy related to property rights. He worked tirelessly to secure citizenship rights — followed by property rights — for the community through numerous legal cases in Bangladesh.
From the early days of Bangladesh’s independence, Farooqui strongly advocated for the Urdu-speaking community to assert their rightful place in the country. After the signing of the Tripartite Agreement in 1974, he concluded that ‘Repatriation to Pakistan’ was unlikely ever to materialise and therefore the community must focus on empowerment and integration into mainstream Bangladeshi society. Together with a group of progressive Urdu-speaking friends — prominent among them were Ahmed Ilias, Naushad Noori, Zainul Abedin, S. M. Sajid, and Dr Syed Yusuf Hasan — Farooqui co-founded Al-Falah Bangladesh, an organisation dedicated to the rehabilitation of the camp-based Urdu-speaking community.
In 2000, following a statement by the then Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, Farooqui encouraged camp-based youth to apply for voter registration. When the community was subsequently excluded from the electoral process, he vowed to seek justice through the higher judiciary. Staying true to his commitment, he fought and won a landmark judgment on May 5, 2003, securing the community’s right to be recognised as citizens and voters. His legal drafts remain foundational precedents in the higher courts of Bangladesh and continue to be cited in citizenship-related cases to this day.
Farooqui authored several important works, including Law of Abandoned Property, Citizenship and Nationalities in Bangladesh, and Interpreting Vested Property Law in Bangladesh. Notably, he also played a pivotal role in landmark legal proceedings, including those that led the Supreme Court of Bangladesh to declare both the fifth amendment to the constitution and the non-party caretaker government system unconstitutional. Farooqui always carried Bangladesh in his heart, quietly dedicating himself to the service of the nation. On one occasion, he stated: ‘I am working to uphold the spirit of the country’s Constitution. Whether my actions benefit or disadvantage any political party is simply part of the process. As an individual, I firmly believe that institutions must stand tall in all circumstances. If the spirit of the Constitution is preserved, then democracy will prevail.’
In recognition of his contributions, his name was proposed three times for the position of justice in the High Court Division — twice by Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, first during his tenure as chief justice and later as president of the republic, and once by chief justice Habibur Rahman. However, he respectfully declined all these offers. The judges of both the High Court Division and the Appellate Division long recognised his expertise in legal interpretation. In this regard, he was invited to assist the benches as amicus curiae, contributing to decisions that uphold justice and the rule of law. He is among the few lawyers in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh who have had the honour of serving in this distinguished capacity.
I hold many cherished memories of this unsung hero of our community. He hails from a culturally distinguished family in Bihar. His maternal grandfather, Mubarak Azimabadi, was a celebrated Urdu poet. Deeply influenced by the works of the subcontinent’s renowned Urdu poet Allama Iqbal, he kept Iqbal’s complete collections in his law chamber. Whenever time permitted, he would read and reflect on Iqbal’s poetry, often offering his own commentary. At times, he would call Ahmed Ilias or Shamim Zamanvi to discuss particular verses in depth. He was also an admirer of the works of Bangladesh’s prominent Urdu poets, Naushad Noori and Ahmed Ilias, and often spoke of Noori’s poetry with deep admiration and fondness.
His love for the Urdu language was profound. He envisioned Urdu becoming a universal language — a true lingua franca. In this context, he once urged: ‘Urdu must reform its alphabet to become a lingua franca.’
His deep affection for his birthplace, Bihar, remained unwavering throughout his life. In 1994, he visited the region, reconnecting with relatives and loved ones. Upon his return to Dhaka, he brought back a small chunk of soil from Bihar and expressed a wish to his heirs: that this soil should be mixed with the earth at his final resting place. After his passing, I spoke to his only son, Ishtiaqur Farooqui, and mentioned this deeply symbolic gesture. He was surprised to learn of it but told me that, in accordance with his father’s desire, the soil from Bihar was indeed placed in his grave. He was laid to rest at Azimpur Graveyard in Dhaka.
As a mark of profound respect and recognition, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh suspended its proceedings for half a day on May 4, 2025 — an extraordinary honour reflecting a lifetime of dedicated service. He will be remembered not only for his legal brilliance, but also for his compassion, humility and unwavering commitment to justice and human dignity.
Ìý
Mohammad Hasan is a human rights activist and former coordinator at Al-Falah Bangladesh.