The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The 23rd death anniversary of Dr Aleem-Al-Razee, a noted parliamentarian, jurist and educationist, will be observed on Saturday with due solemnity.

Tangail Zila Samity, Dr Aleem-AI-Razee Memorial Council, Sandhani National Eye Donation Society, City Law College, Dhaka, Nagarpur Government College, Tangail, Dr Aleem-Al-Razee High School in Lawhati, Tangail, have chalked out elaborate programmes to mark the day, said a press release.

An iconic figure, Dr Razee left a legacy of idealism, freethinking, political activism and service to the humanity. He was elected to the Pakistan National Assembly as an independent member in 1965 where he played his role as the most powerful voice against discrimination towards the majority Bengalis and against Ayub's autocratic rule. Opposing tooth and nail the military regimes and dictatorships in the then Pakistan and later in Bangladesh, he fought relentlessly to foster democracy, rule of law and justice.

He was most vocal against the perpetration of economic exploitation and cultural domination of the then East Pakistanis by the West Pakistan rulers during the sixties and became a living symbol of Bengalee resistance against subjugation by the other wing of Pakistan that fuelled the demand for autonomy and eventually an independent Bangladesh.

In the post independent Bangladesh he tried to promote clean politics giving it an ethical face and a positive image first under the banner of NAP (Bhashani) and afterwards his own party the Bangladesh People's League. While steeped in profound religious traditions, Dr Razee actively advocated the cause of secularism, liberalism and social democracy.

A renowned educationist, Dr Razee founded a number of educational institutions for advancement of education and empowerment of women. An altruist, Dr Razee dedicated his entire life to the public cause giving away all his property in charity. His posthumous gift of eyes restored the eyesight of two poor blind persons. He also bequeathed his vast personal collection of books to the Supreme Court Bar Association Library.

In a statement issued to the press today, Sandhani National Eye Donation Samity President Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan and General Secretary Prof Abul Kalam Azad appealed to the general public to come forward to donate their eyes posthumously to restore the eyesight of thousands of blinds in the country by emulating the noble example set by Dr. Razee who was an enlightened religious person and a reputed Islamic scholar.

Dispelling the widely held belief and prejudice that Islam prohibits donations of human organs including eyes, Dr Razee was one of the pioneers of eye donation in the country. He demonstrated that Islam as a deeply welfare oriented religion, promotes all kinds of donations including eye donation.

Dr Razee was the author of a number of works on the sub-continent's history, religion, law and an autobiographical novel. "Constitutional Glimpses of Martial Law in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh" was his last work published posthumously by UPL (University Press Limited). The royalty from the book was donated to a human rights organisation.