Abdul Baset Majumder
Abdul Baset Majumder (1 January 1938 – 27 October 2021) was a Bangladeshi lawyer and jurist. He was the president of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association and as the vice chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council. He was widely known as a "lawyer for the poor" ("Goriber Ainjibi") and practiced law for over five decades.
Early life and education
Majumder was born on 1 January 1938 in Shanichon village, Laksham Upazila, Comilla District, Bengal Presidency, British India. He completed a BA at Comilla Victoria Government College. He completed his bachelor's degree and master's degree at the University of Dhaka.
Career
Majumder was enrolled as a lawyer on 28 September 1966. He began practicing at the Dhaka High Court on 8 February 1967. He earned a reputation for advocating for underprivileged clients. He established a legal aid trust fund. He provided pro bono legal services to more than 20,000 clients during his lifetime.
Majumder was the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and as the vice chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council. From 24 January 2009 to 30 July 2012, he was the vice chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council. He served a second term as the vice chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council from 6 September 2015 to 30 June 2018. He was also a member of the Awami League's advisory council. He was the joint convenor of the Bangabandhu Ainjibi Parishad.
Majumder was the chairperson of the Bangladesh National Insurance Company Limited.
Death and legacy
Majumder died on 27 October 2021 at United Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, aged 83. He was taken to the hospital following a heart attack. Following his death, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain announced the suspension of all functions of the Appellate Division and High Court Division of the Supreme Court in his honour. Proceedings in the lower courts in Dhaka were also suspended.
Condolences were expressed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President M Abdul Hamid, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Law Minister Anisul Huq, and Attorney General AM Amin Uddin.
Personal life
Majumder's son, Sayeed Ahmed Raj, is a Supreme Court lawyer.