Shohid Ali

Mohd. Shohid Ali, Advocate, Sylhet, Bangladesh (1914–1992)

Professional and Political Career

Mohd. Shohid Ali was an eminent lawyer and a politician in Pakistan and Bangladesh. He was born in Chandbhorang (Biswanath subdivision), Sylhet in 1914 to Mohd. Musson Ali and Mrs. Korful Nessa. Shohid Ali was the middle son of three boys. He received his early education in Chandbhorang, and received his High School Diploma with honors in 1932. In 1936, Shohid Ali received his Bachelor of Arts degree from M.C. College, Sylhet, and in 1940 his law degree (LLB) from the University of Dhaka. The same year, Shohid Ali joined the Sylhet Bar Association as an advocate and became the first Muslim lawyer from Biswanath subdivision. In 1949 he was appointed as an advocate for Dhaka High Court. The same year, Shohid Ali became the Vice President of the Local Board and the Secretary of the Muslim League branch of North Sylhet.

After the passing of ‘The Lahore Resolution' until the creation of Pakistan, Shohid Ali remained highly active in the Pakistan Movement. In 1952, he became the Secretary of All Sylhet District Muslim League branch. In 1970, he was appointed the Vice President of All Pakistan Council Muslim League. During that time he also became the acting President of the party when the original President, Mr. Mia Mumtaz Mohammad Khan Daultana resigned.

In 1969, Shohid Ali became the Public Prosecutor (PP) and the same year he also became the Secretary of Sylhet Bar Association. In 1975-76 and 1985, he was elected the President of the Bar Association.

In 1976 when Muslim League was reinstated in Bangladesh, Shohid Ali became the Vice President. After that he became the President of the divided Muslim League. In 1986, he became one of the Vice Presidents of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the President of the Sylhet District branch.

In 1992, Shohid Ali was awarded the gold medal by the Sylhet Lawyer’s Association for the completion of his 50th year as a lawyer.

Personal life

Shohid Ali married Ms. Khairunnessa Moni, the daughter of a distinguished Magistrate of Sylhet, Mr. Ahmadullah and the youngest sister of Mr. Altaf Husain, a prominent journalist and a long-term editor of the prestigious Pakistani newspaper, The Dawn. Shohid Ali raised three daughters and two sons. All his children are well established in life. In 1992, the former chairman of Sylhet Academy and an eminent politician, Mr. Shohid Ali passed away in Sylhet.

Other facts AbOUT Shohid Ali

In Dhaka University, Shohid Ali was a resident student of the Salimullah Muslim Hall from 1936-1939. He was a prominent student of the Hall and took an active part in its corporate life. He was the Captain of the Hall Volleyball team and the Secretary of the Hall Athletic Club.

He was multi-lingual and along with English and Bengali, he studied Urdu, Persian, and Arabic. After the Morning Prayer, he was often seen pacing in his study reciting spiritual Persian poems.