Muhammad Habibur Rahman was a legendary and much-loved personality. His wisdom, leadership and sagacity will keep him alive among the people of this country.
Such were the sentiments echoed by mourners who came to pay their last respects to the former chief justice and head of a caretaker government.
People from all walks of life crowded the central Shaheed Minar yesterday to view the body of Justice Habibur Rahman, who died on Saturday night at the age of 85.
Paying tribute, Arif Khan, a lawyer of Dhaka Judge Court, said: “Justice Habibur deserves respect as he was one of those who practise the spirit of the Language Movement through their words and work. He did a tough job for the Bangla language _ compiling the one and only Bangla thesaurus, a law lexicon _ Ain Shobdo Khosh, a dictionary on religion _ Jar Ja Dhormo and a dictionary of idioms and proverbs _ Bachan-0-Prabachan.”
“Justice Habibur was also a wise judge who delivered verdicts considering all types of conditions and the country’s situation. He had authored the Supreme Court judgement that returned the citizenship of Ghulam Azam, relying on a law which ultimately became a boon in prosecuting the former Jamaat chief for his atrocious role in the 1971 Liberation War,” he continued.
“But Habibur was not out of the ambit of criticism. He never directly commented on national issues. Rather, he gave hints, which we cannot expect from such a personality,” Arif Khan alleged.
He also regretted that the eminent jurist did not write enough legal literature, which could have benefitted the country’s judiciary.
Ali Ulluh Opu, a law student of Dhaka University, said Justice Habibur’s judgements had helped him to develop a judicious mind.
Shawkat Ali, who works at a bread factory, said it was under Habibur Rahman’s leadership that the country marched towards establishing true democracy in 1996. Shawkat, along with his two daughters, came all the way from Uttara to lay a wreath and pay hommage.
Justice Rahman’s first namaz-e-janaza was held at the Supreme Court premises around 1:37pm.
Chief Justice MD. Muzammel Hossain, several government ministers, justices from both the Appellate Division and the High Court and prominent lawyers were present at the janaza.
After the funeral prayers, Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam declared: “The second session of the High Court will not be held today as a tribute to late Habibur Rahman.”
Justice Rahman was laid to rest at the Banani graveyard in the capital after his second namaz-e-janaza, which was held at the Azad Mosque in Gulshan.
Justice Habibur Rahman retired as chief justice in 1995 and served as the chief adviser to the first constitutionally-established caretaker government from March 31 to June 23, 1996.
In 1994, he delivered a verdict in favour of Ghulam Azam, restoring the citizenship of the former Jamaat-e-Islami chief.
He also authored a judgement scrapping the eighth amendment of the constitution enacted by former military dictator HM Ershad’s government.
The amendment stipulated circuit benches of the High Court in six cities of the country. Both judgements faced criticism from many quarters.
Many critics said restoration of Ghulam Azam’s citizenship was not correct as the Jamaat kingpin had carried out atrocities on the people of Bangladesh during the 1971 war. Many also said circuit benches would have been beneficial in serving justice-seekers across the country.
