# Muhibbul Haque Gachbari

Muhibbul Haque (6 December 1945 – 17 May 2023) , also known as Gachbari Huzur, was a Bangladeshi Deobandi Islamic scholar, Shaykhul Hadith, Educationist and spiritual personality. He was the Muhtamim (Principal) and Shaykhul Hadith of Jamea Qasimul Uloom Dorgah Hazrat Shahjalal, the central Naib e Amir(Vice president) of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, a member of Al-Haiatul Ulya Lil-Jamiatil Qawmia Bangladesh and also member of its Examination Control Committee. In addition, he worked as the main Examination Controller of Azad Deeni Edara-e-Taleem Bangladesh and was the lifelong president of Ulama Parishad Bangladesh and Khadimul Quran Parishad Bangladesh, He also served as the Ameer (President) of the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Sylhet District Committee. For his contributions to religious education and various social welfare activities, he was awarded the 'Ragib Rabeya Foundation Ekushey Honor' in 2022.

## Early life and education

Haque was born on 6 December 1945 into a Muslim family in Gachbari village under Kanaighat upazila in Sylhet district. His father, Ishaq, was an Islamic scholar in Kanaighat region.
After receiving his primary education at Daknail Dakshin Government School, he enrolled in his local Gachbari Mazahirul Uloom Qawmi (Akhuni Madrasah) and completed his lower secondary education. In 1963, he pursued higher secondary education at Kanighat Darul Uloom Madrasah. In 1965, he got admitted at Dhaka North Ranaping Arabia Hosainia Madrasah, and later moved to Darul Uloom Hathazari Madrasah. After four years of study, he completed his Dawra-e-Hadith in 1969. That year, he secured the first position in the combined merit list of Bangladesh’s Dawra-e- Hadith examination. He received spiritual initiation(teachings of Tasawuf) from Shaikhe Kouria Maulana Abdul Karim, who also granted him khilafah (spiritual succession).

## Professional life and career

His professional career began in 1969 through teaching at Sunamganj Dargahpur Madrasah. After that, from 1973, he was appointed as a teacher at Jamea Qasimul Uloom Dorgah Hazrat Shahjalal Madrasah, Sylhet. He served as the Sheikhul Hadith, Education Secretary, and Head of Teachers at Dorgah Madrasah. On 11 March, 2019, following the passing of the principal, Mufti Abul Kalam Zakaria, he was nominated as the 4th principal of Dorgah Madrasah based on the decision of the Shura Council. He continued in this role until his death.

## Awards and honours

He obtained the "Ragib-Rabeya Foundation Ekushey Award 2022" for his unique contribution to religious education and playing a significant role in various social welfare activities.

## Death

On the evening of May 17, 2023 (Wednesday), He had a stroke while at his workplace, Dorgah Madrasah. He was straight away taken to Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital, where he died around 7:30 PM. The following day, after the Zuhr prayer, his funeral prayer was organised at the historic Shahi Eidgah ground in Sylhet, with millions of people attending. His elder son, Enamul Haque Junaid, led the prayer. After the funeral, he was buried in the cemetery in front of the Darul Ikama building of Jamea Qasimul Uloom Dorgah Hazrat Shahjalal.