Barrister Rafique-ul-Huq, aged 75, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hajj Finance Company Limited. He holds MA and LLB degrees from Calcutta University. He became a Barrister at Law in 1961 and called to the Bar from Lincolns Inn in 1962. Mr. Huq’s life is multi faced. He is an outstanding lawyer & human rights activist by profession and a social activities by out of passion. To cite evidence of his achievements in restoring human rights, rule of law, peace building and good governance and reducing social conflict & injustice during the last 2 years from 2007 to 2008. when Bangladesh faced an uncertain future with the proclamation of emergency (came defacto under the control of Bangladesh Army), Fundamental rights were suspended, and Rule of law became an illusion. Many innocent Bangladeshis were illegally detained and tortured. They were sent to jail. Refused fundamental rights including bail. During that period the country was following the ominous footsteps of countries where democracy is still a concept. Almost all the lawyers did not had the courage to defend and argue in the court of law in favour of violation of rule of law. In such cross road of history, Mr. Huq emerged as beacon of hope. Due to his legal acumen, conviction and dedication. Rule of law was restored and Bangladesh saw a free and fair election. The voice that the whole world heard against the military backed Care Taker Government was that of Mr, Huq’s. He united the country, its divided politicians, brought them into one platform in restoring democracy & rule and Law. Both the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia sought the advice of Mr. Huq. Even the fallen soldiers of emergency sought his advice, he being the one who has upheld the constitution in its truest sense and he has done so not by delivering speeches in seminars and meetings but advocating the cause before the Court of Law. He also created a platform of dialogue between the leading political parties to sit together and solve the then political chaotic & confusion.

He defended against almost all of the motivated political cases, field by the then caretaker government backed by the Bangladesh Army, in the court of law and became a national hero in the eye of the general public in establishing human rights, peace building and rule of law.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq joined the High Court, Dhaka in 1962. In 1965 he became an Advocate, the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In 1975 he was made Senior Advocate, Appellate Division, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. He became the Attorney General of Bangladesh in 1990. He now practices law. He provides legal advisory service to companies. He also seats in Board of Companies and financial institutions. While in the Government Legal Service, he served as chairman, Bangladesh Bar Council Tribunal and Bar Council Election Tribunal (1975-76) and Chairman, Bar Council of Bangladesh (1990). He was an elected member of the Executive Committee on International Taxation of the World Association of Lawyers and Member World Executive Committee. Foreign Trade and Investment (Washington) and Member of Bangladesh Delegate to the UN General Assembly (1990)

He was a main draftsman of many of the country’s laws. He was a member of National Commission on Money, Banking and Credit and Chairman of Sub-Committee on Banking Laws under the Commission which wrote the current banking laws of Bangladesh (1984), Chairman of Corporate Laws Committee (1990), Member of the Company Law Reforms Committee (1977) and Member of the Committee for Improvement of the Stock Exchange Market in Bangladesh. Barrister Rafiq-ul Huq was the writer of various other laws for Bangladesh including Bangladesh Banks Nationalization Order 1972, Foreign/Private Investment (Promotion and Protection Act 1980 and Board of Investment Act 1989).

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq is active in Social works. In the sector of public service. Barrister Huq has dedicated his whole life for providing treatment to the poor and distressed population especially children and women. He has established a large number of clinics, and hospitals and established health institutions and societies to take care of the health care system in Bangladesh. In doing so, he has generously made contributions in addition to his manual labour in establishing such institutions. He set aside two days in every week for public services, in truest of the term and with sincerity and devotion. To name a few of his contributions in the health sector in the recent past, he has either established or provided leadership role in establishing the following institutions: Surbama Clinic and Subarna Ibrahim General Hospital, Ad-din Women and Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka Sishu (children) Hospital, Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital (under construction), Bangladesh Diabetic Hospital (BIRDEM) and Ibrahim Cardiac Centre (Heart Hospital).He is Life Member of its National Council (since 1976), Life Member, Bangladesh National Society for the Blind, Chairman, Society for Education and Care of Hearing Impaired Children of Bangladesh, Chairman, Management Committee of BIRDEM Hospital and Secretary General, Management Board, Dhaka Shishu Hospital.

About Hajj Finance Company Ltd: Hajj Finance Company Limited (formerly, Ahsania – Malaysia Hajj Investment and Finance Company Limited) is a Sharia-based non-bank financial institution which commenced its business on July 2,2007. This Company follows the model of Malaysia’s Pilgrims fund and Management Institution (Popularly known as “Tabung Hajj”). It mobilizes deposits from would be pilgrims and invests its fund in Shariah based activities. It provides Hajj services. At present it has two Branches, namely Principal Branch and Baitul Mukarram Mosjid Complex. This Company is jointly owned by Global Hajj and Umra International Corporation (49%) and Dhaka Ahsania Mission (51%) HFCL is also a member of Bangladesh Leasing and Finance Companies Association (BLFCA).