Biography
A BIOGRAPHY OF NURUL ISLAM NAHID
Summary
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was born on July 5, 1945, in the village of Kasba in Beanibazar Upazila, Sylhet, into a Muslim family. He served as the Education Minister from 2014 to 2018. As a member of Parliament, he represented the Sylhet-6 constituency in 1996, 2008, 2014, and 2018.
He attended Kasba Primary School. He passed the SSC exam from Panchkhanda Hargovind High School and participated in the HSC exam from Murari Chand College in Sylhet. His political life began from there. Later he was enrolled at Dhaka University. His wife, Johra Jesmin, is a civil officer. Elder daughter, Nadia Nandita Tanni, is an assistant lecturer in the Department of Linguistics at Dhaka University. Younger daughter, Nazia Samantha Islam, works in the corporate sector. During the 1990 movement, Nahid played a significant role in establishing a democratic government. In 1993, during communal unrest surrounding the Babri Mosque, he independently formed a coalition called the Committee for Preserving Communal Harmony where he served as its joint secretary. In 1973, he joined the Communist Party as General Secretary. He actively participated in the student movement against martial law in 1969. In 1970, he was elected President of the Bangladesh Students’ Union. He also served as the union’s general and organizational secretary. In 1976, he was appointed President of the Jubo Dal (Youth League). From 2015 to 2017, he was nominated as UNESCO’s 38th Vice President. In the following year, he was also nominated as the 39th President. Several allegations of corruption arose against Nurul Islam Nahid in 2024. Two of his books were published in 1980. Between 2006 and 2008, his collected works were released at the Ekushey Book Fair in February. He has a total of seven published books. Notable titles include Bangali Rukhe Daraw, Bangabandhur Adarsha, Lokkho O Songram, and Rajnitir Shusthadhara Punoruddharer Songram.
In 2019, while serving as Education Minister, he distributed 35 crore free textbooks to secondary and higher secondary students. Separate washrooms for girls were constructed in approximately 39,000 schools. In 2017, Nurul Islam Nahid received the World Education Congress Global Awards for his contributions to education.
Introduction
Nurul Islam Nahid was the Minister of Education of Bangladesh. He served as an education minister from 2014 to 2018 preceded by Hossain Zillur Rahman. Served as a parliament member for 15 years during the government of Awami League. He was elected in 1996, 2008, 2014 and 2018 from the Sylhet-6 constituency which includes Gopalganj and Bianibajar Upazilas. Sylhet-6 was established in 1973. This constituency is currently empty due to dissolution of the parliament from August 6, 2024. Nurul Islam Nahid is also a great politician and an author.
Life of "Nurul Islam Nahid " at a Glance
Personal Details
➢ Full Name: Nurul Islam Nahid
➢ Date of Birth: 5 July 1945
➢ Birth Place: Kashba Village, Beanibazar, Sylhet, Bangladesh
➢ Died: Still Living (Age 79)
➢ Religion: Islam
➢ Nationality: Bangladeshi
➢ Political Affiliation: Bangladesh Awami League
➢ Family: Married to Zohra Jasmine (civil officer); two daughters – Nadia Nandita Tinni (DU faculty) and Nazia Samantha Islam (corporate sector)
Education
➢ Primary: Kashba Primary School
➢ Secondary: Panchkhanda Hargovind High School (SSC, 1961)
➢ Higher Secondary: Murari Chand College, Sylhet (HSC)
➢ University: University of Dhaka (Bachelor’s and Master’s)
Political Career & Contributions
➢ Student Leadership:
-President, Bangladesh Students’ Union (1970)
-President, Jubo Union (Youth League, 1976)
-Active participant in 1969 mass uprising against martial law
➢ Political Journey:
-General Secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh (1973)
-Joined Awami League (1994)
-Member of Parliament, Sylhet-6 constituency (1996-2001, 2008-2024)
➢ Ministerial Achievements:
-Education Minister (2009-2019)
-Distributed 35 crore free textbooks to students
-Constructed separate washrooms for girls in 39,000 schools
-Implemented teacher training programs nationwide
International Roles
➢ Vice-President, 38th UNESCO General Conference (2015-2017)
➢ Re-elected as Vice-President, 39th UNESCO General Conference
Publications
➢ Notable Books:
-Bangali Rukhe Darao (2006)
-Bangabandhur Adarsha, Lokkho O Songram (2007)
-Rajnitir Shusthadhara Punoruddharer Songram (2009)
-Shikkhaniti o Onnanno Proshongo (2009)
➢ Total of 7 published books and numerous analytical articles
Awards & Honors
➢ World Education Congress Global Award (2017)
➢ Recognized for outstanding contribution to Bangladesh’s education sector
Social Contributions
➢ Founded “Committee for Preserving Communal Harmony” during Babri Mosque unrest (1993)
➢ Played key role in 1990 pro-democracy movement against Ershad regime
➢ Advocated for secularism and communal harmony throughout career
Recent Developments
➢ Faced corruption allegations in 2024 regarding wealth accumulation
➢ Constituency currently vacant following parliament dissolution (August 2024)
Legacy
➢ Transformed Bangladesh’s education system through comprehensive reforms
➢ Pioneered free textbook distribution and educational infrastructure development
➢ Strengthened Bangladesh’s representation in international educational forums
➢ Advocated for quality education aligned with Sustainable Development Goals
Early life
He was born to a Muslim family in a village named Kashba in Beanibazar, Sylhet in 1945 on 5th July. Right now he is 79 years old. He went to Kashba Primary School. Later he got admitted into Panchakhanda Hargobind High School and completed SSC from there in 1961. He Completed his HSC from Murari Chand College in Sylhet. He started doing politics from there. Later he got admitted into The University of Dhaka.
Family
Nurul Islam Nahid was married to Zohra Jasmine. She was a civil officer. They have two daughters. Nadia Nandita Tinni Islam was their eldest daughter. She is an assistant professor of Linguistics at the University of Dhaka. She got married to Imran H Sarker, who was leader at Gonojagoron Moncho during Shahbag protest in 2013. They got divorced later. Nazia Samantha Islam, their youngest daughter who is currently working in the corporate sector. She completed her MBA degree from North South University. Currently he is residing at Nam Bhaban in Mirpur-2 with his family.
Political Career
Nurul islam Nahid has a prosperous political career. He is known as a dedicated, honest and selfless leader. He was one of the main activists against military rule in Sylhet. Later, he became a prominent figure who worked for educational rights, the establishment of secularism, democracy, and national rights. He played an important role in establishing a democratic government during the movement of 1990. It was called the 90’s Anti-Authoritarian Movement. It was a democratic movement against Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Ershad came to power in 1982. He imposed martial law and replaced the democratic government with a blood thirsty coup. From 10th October to 4th December, about 100 people died. Finally General Ershad was arrested due to the uprising corruption charges.
In 1993, centering the Babri Masjid incident communal tension appeared. At that time he organized a united front to uphold the communal harmony. All secular political parties, student, worker, and cultural organizations came together to form the ‘Communal Harmony Protection Committee where Nurul Islam Nahid worked as joint coordinator.
Nahid became a member of Awami League in 1994 and member of Bangladesh National Parliament from 1996-2001. In 1973, he joined as the general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh. He actively took part in the student’s movement against military rule in Pakistan during Ayub Khan Regime and historic mass upsurge day in 1969.
He was selected as Bangladesh Student Union President in 1970. He served as the General Secretary and Organizing Secretary at this student union He was also elected as the president of Bangladesh Youth Union in 1976, one of the largest progressive student organizations of that time. From 2015 to 2017, Nurul Islam Nahid served as the vice-president of 38th UNESCO general conference. He was re-elected for the 39th session’s General conference VICE President. Their headquarters are situated at Paris in France.
Several allegations rose against Nurul Islam Nahid of acquiring illegal wealth and committing corruption in 2024. According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Nahid smuggled money with the help of his brother Nazrul Islam and his friend Kamal Ahmed. Both of them are settled in the UK. Again he became media viral after taking lunch with a leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir in Gopalganj of Sylhet. Islami Chhatra Shibir is a war crime accused political party. Later he said that he went there just to attend a meeting.
Publication
n the 1980s, he published two of his books. Additionally, in February 2006, 2007 and 2008, three collections of his essays were published at the Ekushey Book Fair. He wrote hundreds of analytical articles on economy, politics, society and other topics. They were published in many newspapers and journals.
He published 7 books. Some of them are –
➢Bangali Rukhe Darao (2006)
➢Bongobondhur Adorsho, Lokkho o Shongram (2007)
➢Rajnitir Shusthodhara Punoruddharer Shongram (2009)
➢Shikkhaniti o Onnanno Proshongo (2009)
➢Bangladesher Obbhudoy o Gonotontrer Poth Porikroma (2006)
Legacy
After Nurul Islam Nahid joined as the minister of education, the country has seen significant progress in primary and secondary education. As an education minister he worked to build a broader and value-based education system to develop skills relevant to the needs of Bangladesh. He made sure to improve standards of education to create a skilled workforce in the country. His goal was to expand education to the every doorstep of both rural and urban students and encourage students to acquire both practical and theoretical knowledge. He created an effective multidisciplinary network on implementation of SDGS. All the universities, government agencies, national and international NGOs were part of his plans. He ensured quality education for everyone to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2019, the education board distributed 35 crores free textbooks to the primary and the secondary level academic years students.
Many schools, colleges and madrasas were constructed during his period. Many steps were taken to develop the standard of education quality and Information technology. Teachers training programs were also provided for better teaching standards. Coaching center businesses were stopped and taken under law. Teachers were asked to teach with sincerity to their students. Separate washrooms for female students were constructed in 39,000 schools.
Achievements
He was nominated for the World Education Congress (WEC) in 2012 for the recognition of his dynamic contribution in education. But in 2017, Nurul Islam Nahid received the World Education Congress Global Awards for his outstanding contribution to the education sector of Bangladesh. He received the award at the sixth World Education Congress.
Reference
https://www.thedailystar.net/country/free-textbooks-distribution-in-2019-by-bangladesh-government-165289
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurul_Islam_Nahid
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime/acc-investigating-ex-ministers-akm-mozammel-nurul-islam-nahid-973316
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/quality-education-indispensable-to-achieve-sdg-nahid-1522509920#google_vignette
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