Biography

Mostafizur Rahman was born in 1953 in Zamgram, under Phulbari upazila of Dinajpur. To his father Mubarak Hossain and mother Shaheda Khatun, he was 'Fizar' - a name that has now become instantly-recognizable in political and leadership circles.

Despite hailing from a non-political family, Mostafizur Rahman had an early initiation in politics, in the 10th grade. He was active in the historic Six and Eleven Point Movements. Owing to his vision and keen sense of purpose, he also successfully passed his SSC examination from Sujapur High School in 1968 and HSC examination from Phulbari College in 1970.

Mostafizur Rahman enrolled as a Freedom Fighter during the 1971 Liberation War and fought bravely under Sector-7. He later acted as the Chairman of the Dist. Conference Preparation Committee of Dinajpur District Chattra League in 1973. That same year, he also graduated from Phulbari College. Later, he went on to acquire a Master's degree in Sociology from Rajshahi University and a Bachelor of Law, 1977 and 1986 respectively.

A tireless activist and veteran, Mostafizur Rahman became amember of the Committee of Dinajpur District Awami League and was also elected by the party councilors as the Organizing Secretary of Phulbari Thana Awami League in 1979. Later he was elected in party council as the Organizing Secretary of District Awami League in 1980 and held the position till 1992. He was elected as the General Secretary of Dinajpur District Awami League in 1992 through a party council. Till then he was successfully re-elected as the General secretary of District Awami League for three times and held the position for 21 years. In 2013 council, he was elected as the president of District Awami league. During his long political career, he was also selected as the Member of Bangladesh Awami League Central Committee.

Mostafizur Rahman was first elected as the Member of Parliament in 1986, from constituency No. 10 (Dinajpur-5, Phuulbari-Parbatipur). His dedication, hard work and bold leadership has seen him elected on six consecutive terms. In 2009, he took oath as the State Minister for the Ministry of Environment and Forest and later took over the Ministry of Land as State Minister, from 31 July, 2009 to 21 November, 2013.

Advocate Mostafizur Rahman was sworn-in as the Minister for the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on January 12, 2014 - an office that he holds at present.

He had been the member of the Parliamentary standing committee on Communications Ministry for 15 years, Public Accounts Committee for 10 years and in the year 2000 he was selected as the Chairman of standing committee on the Relief and Rehabilitation Ministry.

After Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's assassination on 15 August 1975, Advocate Mostafizur Rahman took active part in protesting the barbarous act and was summarily sent to prison. In 1990, he was sent to prison for the second time for his brave role in the struggle of establishing Democracy and Rule of Law.

In addition to attending workshops and conferences in different countries, including Australia, Thailand, India, Malaysia & USA, Advocate Mostafizur Rahman is also involved in different sociocultural and educational institutions.

Advocate Mostafizur Rahman married Rajina Rahman in 1979. Together, they are proud parents of two daughters, Farhana Rahman and Farzana Rahman.