Eminent lawyer Barrister Abdur Razzak passes away

The country's renowned criminal law expert, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court and former Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Barrister Abdur Razzak is no more (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun). He was 79 years old at the time of his death.

He breathed his last at 4:10 pm on Sunday (May 4) while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital. His death was confirmed by his two assistant lawyers Shishir Monir and Mujahidul Islam Shaheen. It is learnt that he had been admitted to Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi in a serious condition for a few days.

Barrister Razzak returned to the country on December 26 last year after staying in the UK for 11 years. After returning home, he resumed his legal profession in the Supreme Court. On this occasion, his junior lawyers gave him a reception at the Supreme Court Bar Association on January 6 this year.

On December 18, 2013, after defending Jamaat leaders at the International Crimes Tribunal, he left the country. While in the UK, he resigned from Jamaat on February 15, 2019. Later, he joined the 'Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party' and took over as its chief advisor. However, he resigned from that position after the mass uprising of students on August 17 last year.

When asked about politics, he clearly stated after returning home, "I am a lawyer. I am a courtroom barrister. I want to contribute to the legal field. If we can establish the rule of law in the country, then politics will be successful, and economic development will also occur. I will remain in the legal field and be engaged in the service of the country and the nation."

Until his death, Barrister Razzak was the chief lawyer of Jamaat-e-Islami's registration case and Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam, who was convicted of war crimes.

Barrister Abdur Razzak was born in 1944 in Sheikhlal village of Mathiura Union in Beanibazar Upazila of Sylhet. After earning his BA (Hons) and MA degrees, he became a barrister from Lincoln's Inn, UK in 1980. After practicing law in London for a few years, he returned to Bangladesh in 1986 and started his practice as a lawyer in the High Court. He then became a lawyer of the Appellate Division in 1994 and was recognized as a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court in 2002.

Barrister Razzak has two sons and a daughter. Two sons—Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddiqui and Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddiqui—are working as senior lawyers in the Supreme Court.

Barrister Abdur Razzak's contribution to the legal field of Bangladesh will be remembered forever.