October 27th marks the 49th death anniversary of the late Khan Sahib Mohammad Afzal, who passed away at the age of 83 in 1975 at his residence in Naogaon. After performing the Johr prayer, he went to bed and died in peace during the siesta.
On this mournful day, it is the cherished memories and his enduring qualities that rise above the waves of sorrow, deserving to be remembered.
Khan Sahib Mohammad Afzal was born in 1894 at his village home Khattawasher-Raninagar upazila in Naogaon district.
He passed the Matriculation Examination from Naogaon Krishna Dhan High School in 1913. In 1916, he completed his Intermediate of Arts from Rajshahi College, achieving first division in both board examinations. He was the first Muslim boy to graduate from the upazila.
In 1918, he graduated in Arts from the renowned Presidency College in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He later studied law at Calcutta’s Ripon Law College.
He came into contact with prominent politicians such as Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque, Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, Moulana Akram Khan, Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy, and Mohammad Ali of Bogura. These leaders were deeply committed to securing opportunities for Muslim students for admission at Presidency College, and he was among the first group of Muslim students to get admitted there. To support students facing financial difficulties in Calcutta, these politicians arranged a private residence with free meals, ensuring that students like Mohammad Afzal could pursue their education without hardship.
He also trained the Bengal University Student Military Corps during his time at Presidency College.
While at Calcutta Presidency College, he became very close to his classmate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Between 1918 and 1920, a devastating flood hit North Bengal, severely impacting Rajshahi, Bogura, and Naogaon as well. Under the guidance of the renowned scientist Sir Prafulla Chandra Roy, my father and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited the flood-affected areas to distribute relief materials, demonstrating their commitment to the welfare of people.
His son Mohammad Anwarul Quadir said, “My father was well known for his literary contributions. As a member of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, he was connected with luminaries such as Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Moulana Akram Khan, and Kazi Abdul Wadud. He regularly wrote articles for prominent journals and newspapers—including Mohammadi, Azad, Mohonaw, Observer, and Morning News—in both Bengali and English. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of local monthly Nabadiganta, published by local government administration.”
“He authored several books, including Naogaon Mohokumar Itihash, Ajmir Pahty, Islami Nama, and Mohasthan Gorer Itihash. Prior to his death, he was working on a book about Rabindranath Tagore in Patishar village in Atrai upazila of Naogaon district. Tragically, his death prevented him from completing this work. It is worth noting that he met Rabindranath Tagore several times in Patishar.”
He served as the staff correspondent for the United Press of Pakistan (UPP) in Naogaon and was the founding president of the Naogaon Journalists Association.
In 1934, he was honored with the title of 'Khan Sahib' in recognition of his distinguished service as a government civil servant. He retired from government service in 1953.
After retiring from government service, he received visitors like eminent individuals, including Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Haque, former Pakistan Foreign Minister Hamidul Haq Choudhury, former Chief Minister Abu Hossain Sarkar, former Ministers Abdul Latif Biswas and Khairat Hossain, veteran politicians Comrade Haji Danesh and ASM Solaiman, journalist Anwar Zahid, and others, who joined him for lunch at our residence.
Following my grandmother’s death, Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, who was attending a public meeting nearby, came to our home to offer his condolences, said his son Mohammad Anwarul Quadir.
As we remember my father today, I am grateful for his legacy of kindness, intellect, and dedication. His commitment to education and community continues to inspire us. On this 49th anniversary, we honour his memory and the values he instilled in us, his son added.
