Remembering Mohon Mia

Yusuf Ali Chowdhury alias Mohon Mia died this day (November 26) in 1971 at the age of 66.  He loved democracy and wanted to bring back democracy in place of autocracy.
Mohan Mia lost his father when he was only 18 years old. At that time, he was a student of class X. But he had to take up the responsibility of running the family zemandari at that early age as his elder brother Moazzam Hossain Chowdhury alias Lall Mia was deeply involved in the politics of  All-India Congress.
Mohan Mia played a pioneering role in spreading education. He wanted to make society economically self-reliant. With this end in view, he established Baitul Aman in 1945. It was an agricultural-industrial education project in Faridpur town.
Mohan Mia was Chairman of Faridpur District Board for long 15 years (1938 to 1953). He took active interest in the construction of roads, digging of ponds, setting up Madrasa and charitable dispensaries. Known as the King Maker, Mohan Mia was very active in politics. He took part in the Language Movement. He played a leading role in the framing of 1956 constitution of Pakistan but was the only MNA present in the Constituent Assembly who was not a signatory to it. He firmly believed that the constitution did not properly and equitably reflect the rights and hopes and aspiration of the people of the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
When the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly was held, it was found that  no party commanded a majority to form a ministry. Mohan Mia with his relentless efforts, grit and manoeuvring formed an alliance between Krishak Sramik Party (KSP) in the erstwhile East Pakistan and the Muslim league which then had majority seats in West Pakistan. He set up a branch of Anjuman-e- Mofidul Islam which did a pioneering job for the burial and cremation of Muslims and Hindus respectively.
Born in a rich and aristocratic family, Mohan Mia worked for the well-being of the poor. He founded a hostel for the poor but meritorious students of Faridpur Rajendra College. He sunk many tube-wells and established may Medicare. To impart religious teaching he founded Moijuddin Madrasa of high school standard. He also established Halima Girls School after the name of his mother for spreading the education of the girls.
The goal of his life was to serve humanity at large which he cherished until he breathed his last.