If Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman Rahman were alive today, he would have never approved the title “Chief Justice” before his name in the heading of this article because he was a modest person and always shunned titles and accolades. He just wanted to be known as Muhammad Habibur Rahman without any titles.
He was a professor, barrister, judge, philosopher-thinker, poet, prolific writer of about 90 books on law, language, literature, Rabindranath Tagore, anthropology, and translator of the holy Q'uran -- all rolled into one.
Justice Rahman's goals were to serve his country, to serve his people by uncovering the truth, and to tell the people about the importance of values of equality, liberty, participatory democracy and social inclusion.
When he passed away, the condolences and tributes that poured in from legions of people and politicians, irrespective of party, illustrated that he was a real inspiration through the force of his convictions and his ideals.
After completing BA Honours from Rajshahi College, he took admission in Dhaka University and completed his Masters (1951) in history securing first class. He also obtained LLB from Dhaka University.
He was elected as a vice president of the Salimullah Muslim Hall in 1951. He played a key role in the 1952 Language Movement, and he together with another student first came out openly on the street and defied the Section 144 imposed on February 21, 1952, by the Pakistani rulers. He was arrested on that day along with many others from a procession.
Since Justice Rahman had first-hand knowledge about what happened on February 21, 1952, he felt very strongly about the importance of mother tongue in the life of everyone, and wrote a book titled Speaks for All Languages, which was a ground-breaking and seminal work that has contributed to the understanding of the importance of all mother languages
He appeared at the Central Superior Service examination and was successful but, because of the adverse police report, he could not join either the civil service (CSP) or foreign service (PFS). To embarrass the government he thought of an innovative protest by selling cigarettes at the gate of the Dhaka University. Since he was a tall person, no one could miss him.
Soon, to avoid such a protest by a brilliant student, the government offered him a scholarship to Oxford University. He graduated in modern history in 1958 and got Masters in 1962 from Oxford University. Since he had given a bond to Rajshahi University, he had to teach history there for five years after his return from England.
We knew him as Shelley Bhai. As students junior to him, we tended to gravitate towards him because of his brilliance. He used to inspire us and encourage us to do right things. We admired him, respected him and loved him.
I have known him in different contexts and in different times. After Dhaka, in London, I suddenly met him at the Lincoln's Inn where he and I were enrolled to become barristers. He earned the professional degree of Barrister-at-Law in 1959.
Justice Habibur Rahman joined the Dhaka High Court Bar in 1964, where I met him again. We used to sit side by side at a long table and discuss many political and social issues. I could easily ascertain his thought-provoking ideas and thinking about the issues which impressed me deeply. During that time he wrote a very useful booklet on compulsory requisition of lands by the government, which became a hot topic in litigations at the High Court.
He served as a judge of the High Court Division from 1976 to 1985, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court during 1985-1995, and as chief justice of Bangladesh in 1995. He served as the chief adviser of the caretaker government in 1996 and effectively handled an attempt of a military coup during that time.
We lost contact for many years as we had moved into different paths of our careers. After retirement when I came to Dhaka, we again became close. He entrusted me to write book reviews on two of his books -- one on China and the other on the mother language. He often used to come to my place and whenever I invited him for a get-together he invariably attended.
Although his judicial career took him to the top, he remained extremely influential in society through his books, including six books of verses. He did not mince words and spoke candidly about the ills of society, and some of his remarks became “talk of the town” for many days.
Shelley Bhai, we will never forget you because you have been a source of inspiration to us to pursue knowledge and service to humanity. I join all members of his family in praying for eternal peace for him.
The writer is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.
(Daily Star)
