Dhaka Tribune: by Abdul Awwal Chaudray: December 31. Justice KM Subhan passed away on this day in 2007, a champion of human rights and freedom of religion, and a symbol of unity among the progressive forces of Bangladesh. A man of great altitude, yet so humble. A person of a great caliber, yet so simple.
I came in touch with this great man for the first time in 1988. This meeting was at a simple ceremony in Dhaka Art College. He was talking strongly about justice and constitutional rights. Little did I know at that moment, this very conviction and zeal of his would serve our oppressed community later in an unprecedented manner.
The second interaction with him was in 1992. Our central Ahmadiyya mosque and mission in Dhaka was attacked and partially burnt on October 29 by fanatics. A special in-depth report was published in the Dhaka Courier the following week. He wrote a very comprehensive article regarding the anti-Ahmadiyya atrocities in Brahmanbaria.
I went to thank him. He said, “No need to thank me, just doing my duty towards fellow Bangladeshis.” And he meant it. He never did anything for reward or recognition. Whatever he did, he did it from his sincere commitment.
This was just the beginning. He wrote against the radicals and fanatics repeatedly quoting the constitutional guarantees in the popular dailies, attended the roundtable discussions and made himself available for protests against any untoward threats and abuses.
Categories: Asia, Bangladesh